Weekly Commentary: Reality Test: Will Fatah-Hamas PA Release Gilad Shalit?
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 28 April 2011

Let’s keep this simple.

Palestinian terrorists kidnap and hold Israelis as hostages.

A legitimate Palestinian governing body doesn’t.

This is nothing new.

Even at the most strained points of relations, the Ramallah PA never traded
Israelis.

That’s not to say that they didn’t murder Israelis. But it was never an
official policy that they openly adopted and implemented.

It appears that the new Fatah-Hamas government – if it is indeed formed -
will try to present the world with a western civilized face by appointing
technocrats as ministers.

But a cabinet of Palestinian Oxford and Harvard professors won’t be able to
hide a very simple fact:

Until now, the Hamas government ruling in Gaza has been holding Gilad Shalit
hostage.

And the moment that a Fatah-Hamas government is responsible for both the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip that government is directly responsible for
Gilad Shalit.

What should Israel have to “trade” with a Fatah-Hamas government to gain the
release of Gilad Shalit?

Absolutely nothing.

Because Palestinian terrorists kidnap and hold Israelis as hostages.

A legitimate Palestinian governing body doesn’t.

It is as simple as that.

While many important Western nations have already indicated their misgivings
about a Hamas-Fatah coalition, there are various countries in the world that
have relations with Israel that see Fatah-Hamas unity as a positive
development.

Israel may not be able to convince them otherwise. But Jerusalem should
make it very plain and clear that it expect those same governments to
require the Fatah-Hamas government they are so optimistic about to
immediately and unconditionally release Gilad Shalit.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il