Say Yes
A Syrian “guerilla” organization (yes, I know, there’s no such thing) anounced yesterday that he holds Guy Hever, an Israeli soldier who’s been missing for ten years. They demand 9 Syrian prisoners that are currently held in Israel in exchange for him. There is one obvious response to this publication: say yes.
There’s no need to “find out”, to “check”, to “see if he’s dead or alive”, or anything like that. See if they are serious: publically anounce that if this is the actual price, Israel is willing to pay it - we paid much higher prices for less deserving causes (the Tenenbaum deal, for example). Don’t try to link it to the soldiers kidnapped in Lebanon, to Syria’s aid to Hizbulla, or to the peace process. Don’t go to check details, see in advance proofs that they actually hold him, or anything like that. All this will be worked out at a later stage.
The next move is obvious: a high Israeli official should go to the press and anounce that Israel is willing to exchange nine syrians for Guy Hever. All the details can be worked out later.
Somehow, I doubt that this is what official Israel will do.
