The Current Conflict in Israel: When Survival is at Stake

Amid the never-ending stream of news stories about the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, the Hezbollah rocket attacks on Jewish civilians, and the frantic UN efforts to forge a cease-fire agreement to end the latest violence in the Middle East, CNN’s Late Edition aired a brief interview this past weekend that offered a powerful reminder of just what is at stake in the current conflict.

The program, hosted by Wolf Blitzer, featured the normal Sunday political line-up of guests, including Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, all providing their expert opinion on the present situation in Israel and Lebanon. But two other guests, whose segment was neatly placed near the end of the show, offered in the simplest of terms what was perhaps the most poignant analysis of the day.

When asked by Mr. Blitzer if he would be willing for the government of Israel to release Lebanese prisoners in order to win the return of his son, Shlomo Goldwasser, father of captured Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser, gave a stunning reply: “Prime Minister Olmert promised us that he will do everything to bring back our sons. He went more than this. And he mentioned that he realized (ph) to our sons, like as they were his sons. I think that I can’t criticize or give advice to a prime minister who is talking to me like this.”

Who would have blamed a broken-hearted father for advocating any position that might gain the release of his son? Who would have faulted him for putting his family first? Here was a perfect opportunity for this man to beg his government to simply release a few Lebanese prisoners so that he could just have his child back. What could be more human? Instead, Mr. Goldwasser placed his trust in his Prime Minister, his government, and most certainly his God.