“We must do everything possible in order to free the captive soldiers.” This declaration has been sounded many times by many leading government and other figures – but at least one organization has some question marks about it.

“We want to initiate public debate,” the Almagor Terror Victims Association says in a statement released Thursday, “about the popularly-heard slogan that ‘everything, but everything, must be done to free the hostages’ – alluding even to a call to release dangerous terrorists.”

Almagor, headed by Lt.-Col. (res.) Meir Indor [pictured], says, “This dilemma, a difficult ethical and strategic question, must undergo debate within the Israeli society. It has ramifications on the lives of everyone.”

Reports are rife that Israel is prepared to release 1,400 terrorist prisoners, in three stages, in return for IDF Cpl. Gilad (ben Aviva) Shalit. Shalit was kidnapped, and two soldiers were killed, nearly six months ago by Hamas terrorists as his unit was guarding the Gaza border.

Almagor does not pretend not to have an opinion on the matter. It presents statistics showing that the price paid after previous terrorist releases has been very high indeed. “122 Israelis were killed in at least 14 terrorist attacks perpetrated by terrorists who were released in the past ten years,” the organization states. In addition, hundreds were murdered or wounded by some of the 1,160 terrorists freed in the famous Jibril exchange of 1986.

“We continue to pay the price of these death deals even today, in waves of terrorism organized by those who were freed,” Almagor states. “Some of them have become terror masters, who initiate, organize and pay for terror attacks regularly.”

Almagor also notes an emotional-psychological aspect of the problem: “The Western world recognizes the need of crime victims to see that those who hurt them are punished. What happens, emotionally, to terror victims who see how terrorism emerges triumphant with terrorists being freed again and again?!”

Report: Soldiers Were Seriously Wounded

An IDF report publicized on Wednesday says that the two soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah five months ago – Eldad (ben Tova) Regev and Ehud (ben Malka) Goldwasser – were seriously wounded during the abduction. One of them was considered to be in “very serious” condition, with the evaluation that if not taken to a trauma unit within an hour of the abduction, he is not likely to have survived.

The report, based on evidence found at the kidnapping site, was released after Prime Minister Olmert’s controversial remarks about the two soldiers. He told a group of high school students earlier this week, “If they are alive – and I believe they are – it is better that they remain in captivity a bit longer and not have additional soldiers die.” The family members of the two soldiers criticized Olmert for his words, advising him to “do more and talk less.”

Kassam Rocket Lands

In other security-related news: A Kassam rocket was fired by Gaza terrorists towards the western Negev over night. No one was hurt and no damage was caused. The rocket landed around 2:00 in the morning near Kibbutz Saad. It was the 18th rocket, according to most counts, to have been fired by Palestinian terrorists since the ceasefire went into effect 12 days ago.

An Arab was apprehended outside the Machpelah Cave in Hevron this morning (Friday) carrying a 15-centimeter (6-inch) long knife. Many Jews frequent the Cave on Friday and Sabbath.