Israel is perceived as standing alone as a modern state that defines itself on the basis of religious and ethnic culture. This exceptionalism is hard to explain to the “melting pot” world society. One the results has been the infamous “Zionism is Racism” UN resolution.

Israel was once the darling of the world. Post 1967 we see horrific anti-Israel reactions and propaganda. As the non-Muslim world loses sympathy for Israel the calls for Israel’s destruction grow louder as the “neutral” ears become deaf.

Is it not apparent that the Occupation is entirely to blame for this? If Israel had not taken over Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem, who would be the Arab prisoners in Israel’s jails today? Only folks who oppose the legitimate, lawful partition of Palestine. The fig leaf of fighting for freedom and raising the occupation would not be present. I believe Israel’s legitimacy would be much easier to defend.

Israel MUST leave the “territories.” Israel MUST accept the propriety of a Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem. These are very hard choices. As the days proceed, the “settler” movement grows stronger and will strangle the political process.

Of course, it is easy for me to preach withdrawal from the comfort of my home in the Galut. Rabbi Gordis is on the firing line and has much more at stake. But does his closeness to the situation cloud his judgment?

I hope he seriously considers how the weakening of world opinion is a far more dangerous threat than are the rockets and bombs of the murderers. The rabbis of old did not assign physical power as the root cause of the destruction of Jewish sovereignty. They claimed sinat chinam (baseless hatred) was the cause. The wisdom of fixing a moral cause for the ancient calamity resonates today. Israel’s occupation is immoral, plain and simple. It violates the norms of law and results in external condemnation nearly everywhere. Internally, it is a corrosively destructive force. The Orr commission recognized the numerous injustices committed against Arab residents of Israel in its 2003 report, none of whose major recommendations have been implemented because of opposition from the right who painted its calls for justice as giving in to “post-Zionist” ideology. In my view, when justice becomes an object of scorn, there’s your modern sinat chinam!

Because Rabbi Gordis is such a decent, intelligent, ardent, articulate and loyal Zionist – and an important voice in our ciommunity – I hope he will address the poison of the Occupation which I believe could ultimately destroy the Jewish state, G-d forbid.

The tragedy of Shalit is overpowered by the love I see for this young man. The damned Red Cross hasn’t lifted a finger, the UN has ignored the violations, and the US worries about precedents instead of principles.

We are Jews and we must take care of each other not only because no one else will, it’s also the reason we exist. Shalit is our family.

What are conditions like for the Palestinians in Israeli jails? I don’t mean physically. I’m sure their circumstances are humane. Do Israeli jails become Terrorist U, where experienced murderers mentor their juniors and where secrets of the black arts are swapped? This is not disingenuous; I’m truly curious.

I have wanted to write to you for a while, since you have written some powerful articles that speak so loudly to me.

With regards to this article though, yes we are in a long war, and if we make this “strategic mistake” we can guarantee more Gilad Shalit’s. The only choice is to completely refuse such a deal. How can we expect our sons and daughters to fight for our safety if as soon as Hamas kidnaps someone we trade murderers as if they were being held as political prisoners.