Two Years

Today marks the second anniversary of the capture of Gilad Shalit by Hamas. In those two years, I've remarked upon the multitude of negotiations and statements proffered by the Israelis and the terrorist group Hamas about Shalit's status and what needed to be done. This is what I wrote last year.

The situation today is unchanged from what it's been since the moment he was captured.

Hamas intends to use Shalit as a pawn to secure the release of terrorists from Israeli jails. That was their plan all along.

Hamas has had multiple opportunities to provide a humanitarian gesture and release Shalit, but has refused to do so. Even multiple visits with former President Jimmy Carter would not result in his release.

I feel for the anguish of Shalit's family, and the Olmert government's ongoing failure to secure the release of Gilad, but the Israeli government must protect not only Shalit, but all other Israelis against the potential of being captured and used as pawns to secure the release of still more terrorists from Israeli jails. It's a delicate balancing act, and the government has failed miserably to do anything other than maintain the status quo from the moment he was captured.

Gilad was captured by Hamas terrorists when they infiltrated into Israel from Gaza in an operation that killed two other Israeli soldiers.

We're also fast approaching the two year anniversary of the capture of Goldwasser and Regev by Hizbullah across the Lebanese/Israel border. That situation remains unchanged as well.