The Proper Response to the Kidnapping of Israeli Soldiers

Today, Hamas, the terrorist organization that also happens to be the ruling party of the "Palestinians" (no coincidence there), raided an Israeli army post, killing two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping a third.

As of this moment, the government of the State of Israel has taken two approaches to securing the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, 19, and I believe both have little chance of success.

1) Military Action

"The age of restraint has come to an end... We will respond forcefully, with an operation that will last more than a day or two." - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

2) International Diplomacy

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to ask they urge Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas to secure Shilat's release... Livni also spoke with her European Union and Spanish counterparts, and is set to speak with foreign ministers from Great Britain, France, Russia and others.

Military action is destined to fail, because both Israel and Hamas know full well that time is not on Israel's side. With each passing day of an Israeli military presence in Gaza - particularly one that will involve a "forceful response" - the international pressure for Israel to withdraw its forces will grow exponentially, until the government of the State of Israel will believe that it has no choice but to withdraw - empty handed.

International diplomacy will fail, because, even were it to succeed, Israel would still find itself as a loss, in that it will have only emboldened Hamas and other terrorist organizations to kidnap more soldiers, as the State of Israel will surely have to give up some diplomatic bargaining chips in any deal to secure the release of Gilad Shalit.

So, what's the alternative you ask?

Here is my 3 step plan to securing the release of Gilad Shalit:

STEP 1:

The government of the State of Israel announces that the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, has one hour to return Gilad Shalit, alive, to one of the crossings between Israel and Gaza - which will be determined by the IDF.

Should Hamas fail to comply...

STEP 2:

The government of Israel will immediately cut off the supply of electricity, gas and water to the Gaza Strip.

Additionally...

STEP 3:

The government of Israel will announce that it holds the "Palestinian Authority", led by Hamas, directly responsible for the kidnapping, and as such, authority will be given to the IDF to begin targeting all "Palestinian Authority" officials until Gilad Shalit is safely returned to Israel.

I have no doubt, that through the implementation of this 3 step plan, both the "Palestinians", as well as the "Palestinian Authority" will do everything in their power to ensure the speedy release of Gilad Shalit, and will refrain from attempting to abduct Israeli soldiers in the future, as the government of the State of Israel will have made it perfectly clear that terror just doesn't pay.

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