Ron Karman, who lost his daughter in a terror attack in Chaifa, warns that releasing Shalit under thse terms will bring a whirlwind of terror.  He blames the media for orchestrating the "Shalit Festival" and hiding the truth behind the dangerous deal.

Painful but riveting interview. 

Ron made the effort to come from Chaifa to the protest tent in Yerushalayim, to warn of the dangers in the Shalit deal that is being formed. 

"Six years ago", says Ron, "my daughter Tal got onto the number 37 bus in Chaifa.  A suicide bomber who came from Abu Dis through a tear in the gate came on the bus, and with the assistance of an Arab who directed him, he blew up, murdering 17 people. 

"This is why I cry out.  Like all Israelis I always said that 'it would never happen to me'. I said 'poor soldier lets get this over with'.  But we were in this movie too many times. Previous deals like Jibril and others brought about the murder of hundreds by released terrorists.  Until Samir Kuntar's release, terrorist with blood on their hands were never released. Now, a despised terrorist like he is is celebrating his anniversary in Lebanon.   

What do you say to the fact that the media is pushing the deal to release Shalit in exchange for hundreds of murderous terrorists?

"A media festival is going on, causing our leaders to make decisions based on emotions and not intelligence.  We, as bereaved parents, experienced first hand what loss means; therefore we are anxious to prevent more attacks.

"We studied the issue thoroughly before we came to protest.  We saw that Israel did not give its' all to release Shalit.  Since the 'Cast Lead Operation' Israel turned over 400 million NIS to the Chamas. There are people with agendas who want to make money from the Chamas.  They should have changed the prisoners' living conditions- something that was not tried.  If we are at war, we must act like it.

"I put forth the following: If Chamas would demand that we sacrifice 20 people for Shalit's release, we would very obviously not agree.  Right? So why did they implant in us the idea that we have to release terrorists?  There are many other options that may not be too pleasant, but they don't endanger our future here." 

How do you explain our deterioration?

"Ideals have weakened: we are exhausted. We look with Western eyesight and think that one day all will be well.  The difference between Chamas and Fatah is that Chamas wants to see us hung today, and Fatah doesn't mind waiting another few years.  We see this through Western eyes, not through the eyes of the Moslem world.  One must listen and hear what the enemy is saying: they say that in the end they will get Acre and Chaifa." 

Are you angry at the one sided media?

"The media showed a child one and a half years old masquerading as Gilad, but didn't show the hundreds of children who once masqueraded but are now buried because terrorists were released.  Our media is very one-sided. It is very popular to release a soldier that has a voice and a family.  Each time I question: what will the media do after the first terror attack?  At the previous festival they knew that we were getting bodies, but hid the information from the public.  They crossed all boundaries and sent a wretched murderer out of jail and ruined the Arad family. I remember how Batya Arad kept saying, 'if my son isn't alive, don't release murderers for him'. 

"On this issue there has to be a cold calculated decision of our leaders, and not an emotional one.  We are dealing with the security and return of Gilad Shalit, as opposed to the security of seven million citizens." 

Did you try to meet with Noam Shalit?

"As a father, I have nothing to say to him.  Noam Shalit is right; as a father he must his utmost that his son should be released.  However, the nation must protect itself, and do its' utmost to make clear rules and red lines.

"We must set clear guidelines.  In America, there are no negotiations with kidnappers.  If there are, only with clear guidelines so that they cannot blackmail or get an appetite to kidnap more soldiers.