Former Shin Bet official Yanir Melech recommended that the chief of staff of the abductees and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, stop the route of abductee deals. In a document written by Melech at Hirsch's request and obtained by Israel Hayom, he writes that "the only way to release abductees must be out of strength, pressure and cruelty, and without releasing terrorists with blood on their hands – not even those who wounded and not leaders."
Terrorists film themselves firing at an IDF force - located in real time and eliminated by fighters of the 401st Brigade's combat team // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
Melech, who was the Shin Bet's operations officer in the West Bank, explains that "one of the most significant tools used by terrorist organizations to achieve their goals is the abduction of hostages." He recalls that "no release deal has brought calm. The release of the Jibril deal led to the first intifada. Liberation in Oslo led to the second intifada. The Tanenbaum deal led to the abduction of Goldwasser and Regev, and to the Second Lebanon War, which ended with an Israeli agreement in the framework of Resolution 1701, which led to the deployment of the Radwan force on the fence. The Shalit deal led to October 7."
Liberation of Gilad Shalit. "No liberation brought calm", Photo: Ariel Hermony/Ministry of Defense
The former official stresses that "every release of terrorists strengthens Hamas in several aspects: strengthening Palestinian support (in Gaza and the West Bank) for the murderous organization, keeping Hamas alive as a relevant body, fueling the territory."
Instead of deals, Melech proposes pressuring Hamas through a series of means. Among other things, waiting for Hamas to turn to the deal, appointing negotiators who were born in Arab countries and fluent in language and mentality, defining the desired deal by Israel and not waiting and not receiving offers from other sides. In addition, demand a swift and non-dragged deal – the release of all abductees without division into subgroups, ages, or roles.
IDF in the Gaza Strip. Dealt only by military pressure, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Melech stresses that "Israel must be willing to 'sacrifice' and not give up its positions – as the strong body, and Israel's steadfastness will inevitably lead to the bending of terror."
In this spirit, he proposes to make do with only one day of pause in favor of executing the overall deal, with Israel setting the date of execution. "To release a kidnapped person for only one prisoner, not murderers or leaders. Each body will be returned in exchange for her body only. Giving a cash reward of a million dollars, and a promise of life to anyone who will bring a kidnapper alive and half a million to anyone who will bring the body of a kidnapped person who was murdered during October / Goldin / Oron Shaul."
The proposal also includes exerting pressure on Hamas terrorists imprisoned in Israel, in the following ways:
• Swift legislation that all Hamas terrorists/supporters imprisoned/detained in Israel be defined as Nazis and their supporters, thereby denying all their rights in prison except for minimal food and water.
• Sentence of life imprisonment/death for all Hamas terrorists
• Construction of an isolated detention facility in the desert for Hamas prisoners (underground concrete and without windows – cruel prison conditions of no trips / no military visits / no communication with the outside world / medical treatment only in extreme cases.
• The list of incarcerated prisoners will be published, and every day that passes, 100 prisoners who will never be released under any conditions will be removed from the list.
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