Sanity prevails

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, marks a special day for the state of Israel and for us as a nation. It is the day Gilad Shalit -- a young soldier in the Israel Defense Forces who was abducted from Israeli territory five years and four months ago -- was returned home.

The entire world's eyes were set on us in amazement and disbelief. How could a country that has suffered at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists negotiate with them over the release of an abducted soldier and agree to free more than 1,000 of the worst murderers? Even in Israel, there are those who raised an eyebrow or even opposed the deal. However, Israel, which has endured many wars during which it suffered heavy losses, has set high standards for the value of life. It is a state that was born out of a war for independence that was forced upon it, and that continues to exist under the threat of war, and whose sons continue to enlist out of a duty to their country. It has committed itself to doing everything for each and every soldier. A wounded soldier is never left behind.

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For thousands of years, the Jewish concept of "all Jews are responsible for one another" ("kol yisrael arevim ze lazeh") has safeguarded Israel's sons. If we lose these values, there will be no hope for Israel. And so, despite the extremely painful price and the possibility of future threats, the government took upon itself the responsibility of negotiating. There have always been threats, and there always will be. Even driving on the roads is dangerous. The IDF must know how to confront these threats, but we will once again be able to send our sons to serve with confidence. Every mother will know that her children are entrusted in the care of competent commanders.

Who knows? Perhaps this deal will open the door to dialogue between us and the Palestinians? If you witnessed the reactions of the masses in Gaza, you saw that they did not respond with the same enthusiasm to the impassioned speeches of Hamas leaders. Many voices there expressed envy at Israel's treatment of the freed soldier. Who knows? Perhaps we'll have the privilege of seeing sanity prevail.

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