Time to shift focus

It has been more than 12 days since Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel were abducted, and in the words of Israeli poet Nathan Alterman, "There was no saying whether they were alive or shot." Frenkel's mother, Rachel, has stated time and again that she believes the three are alive, but she has also qualified her words, telling the crowds coming to console her that "God doesn't work for us," and urging them to stay strong even if the worse happens.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz echoed the sentiment Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces' working assumption is that the teens are alive, he told reporters, but the concern for their fate grows with each passing day. It is as if he meant to hint at the terrible possibility, the one no one wishes to consider but is nevertheless in the back of everyone's mind, that "our brothers' blood cries out to us from the ground."

The IDF launched an unprecedented operation in search of the three, using the opportunity, such as it was, to undermine Hamas infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. Assuming that the IDF's raids were thorough, the fact that scarce weapons were found is testament to the fact that since Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, Israel has been able to thwart numerous Hamas plots.

Now it is time for the final stages of Operation Brother's Keeper. Assuming the IDF explored every remote corner where the three might have been hidden -- and this assumption must be probed behind closed doors -- there is simply no further need for such extensive deployment, as it is becoming counterproductive.

Israel has spared no effort in its canvass, but there is no point in forging ahead with full force only to look in places that have already been thoroughly searched. As great as our fury is, there comes a time when an operation must segue into the painstaking work phase, which does not garner extensive media coverage.

Everyone knows that the way to find the boys involves electronic and human intelligence efforts, and that the key is apprehending the Hamas operatives who committed this crime.

Israel knows who the perpetrators are, as do the Palestinians, and the Arab media has been airing images of individuals they say have been identified as the abductors. If this is true, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been right to insist that Hamas is behind the abduction.

The priorities, however, have changed, as now the most pressing goal is to reach these specific individuals. From there, the road to the boys should be a short one.

This situation has brought about a significant change in the balance of power. Israel has re-arrested dozens of security prisoners released as part of the 2011 Schalit deal -- a measure it has refrained from exercising in the past -- and as of Tuesday, Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein is seeking to reincarcerate 10 of them and have them serve out the remainders of their once-commuted life sentences.

The dilemma is clear: Would Israel's credibility be compromised of it uses the first opportunity that presents itself to renege on what was a painful deal? Weinstein is right to seek this measure, as the terrorists in question have violated their release agreements. This is an important lesson for the future.

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