'Terrorists must understand kidnappings don't pay'

Jerusalem Post ^ | 1/3/12 | GIL HOFFMAN & JPost.com Staff

[SmithL]

Noam Schalit said Tuesday that Israel must be heavy handed in its approach to preventing future kidnappings, and should use "deterrence and not legislation."

"The terror organizations need to know that kidnappings don't pay off for them," Schalit told a Knesset conference on the price for future kidnappings.

Schalit said that terror organizations seeking to carry out the same kind of kidnapping operation that resulted in the capture of his son, Gilad, in 2006, and his captivity until 2011, will be punished.

"These terror organizations need to know that kidnappings will result in strikes against the organizations and their leaders," Schalit said.

Schalit acknowledged that the price for his son's release - a prisoner-exchange deal brokered with Hamas in which Israel freed 1,027 Palestinian prisoners - was high.

Some of the prisoners released were directly involved in terror attacks, such as the bombing of a Sbarros pizza restaurant in Jerusalem where 15 civilians were killed.

Schalit said some mistakes may have been made in the years-long negotiation process between Israel and the Islamist group ruling Gaza.

[SmithL]

The terrorists probably understand that the kidnappings have paid off very well, so far.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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[Eleutheria5]

Bit late for that.