I10: Israeli M.I.A.s

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This is clearly a very serious subject and the right atmosphere must be set up in which to do your programme. An idea is to somehow notify your audience before the programme what it will be about, then when they arrive they are more likely to be ready for what you have to say.

The Stories

- If you know the basic facts then clearly tell the stories of the soldiers. Do not try and be over emotional, it is very unconvincing. Tell the stories as accurately as you know how, adding in information that you have gathered yourself.

- You may want to concentrate on some of the soldiers or you might want to give time to all of their plights.

- Ask your audience if they know any more information about the stories.

The Current Situation

- If you have been following the news then you will be able to go into the facts in more detail and talk personally about what you have found out.

- You can explain that even though Yosef Fink and Rachamim Alsheich were known to be dead since 1991, Israel was willing to make a huge effort to get their bodies back. When the soldiers' remains were returned there was a national feeling of relief in Israel. The whole nation was affected.

- Make it clear that no one is really sure of whether Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz are still alive. There are conflicting reports and much of the information coming out comes from questionable sources.

- Many sources are sure that Ron Arad is still alive, and he has become the main focus of the MIA campaign. You may already have information about him which you can use.

Jewish perspectives

Maimonides lists the many different laws in the Torah that redeeming captives affects. Each different law heightens the seriousness of the problem.

- Discuss whether your audience sees this as a religious issue or not.

- Does Israel have the same responsibility towards Jews around the world that it does towards Israelis?

- Do we have more responsibility to our fellow Jews than other people?

- It could be argued that the extreme effect that this situation is having on Israelis stems from the traditional Jewish belief in the supreme sanctity of all life. What do your audience think?

What can we do?

The back page lists where to get more information whether by Internet, phone or snail mail. It is unrealistic to make this campaign the main focus of your activities, but it is essential that people help in some way. Education plays a valuable part in all this. Some of your audience may have already taking part in rallies or other events that highlight the MIA problem. Ask them to stand up and tell the audience about their experiences and how they felt about them.

It's that important!

A Jew is responsible for all other Jews, that is part of what makes us a people and is a religious belief. The Rabbi in the story could not let his community do one religious activity when they were failing in another. Your personal spirituality can not come at the expense of your fellow Jew and the Rabbi did not forget this.

It is often not possible to redeem captives with money. Even when there is a possibility that you can, there is no guarantee that it will work. Yet Jews have always endeavoured as much as possible to protect their people, recognising the sanctity of the life of each individual.

Living with grief / A letter from a friend

Read out Eisen's words or the letter from "Y" and talk about the effect that the MIA's captivity is having on their families and friends. The daily worry and fear that these people are going through is increased by the lack of clear and accurate information about what is going on.

Also, the soldiers still in captivity must be under enormous pressure. What kind of mind set allows a person to survive such an ordeal? Talk about this openly and frankly with your audience and encourage people to honestly say how they feel about it and how they might cope. Obviously we cannot know what we would do in such a situation, but attempting to relate will make us much more aware and sensitive to the seriousness of what is going on.

Dilemmas

Other issues to discuss:

- What is the difference between negotiating with terrorists and with governments?

- How many terrorists are you willing to release for one Israeli soldier? One for ten? for a hundred? Where do you draw the line? Can you tell parents that the "price" of their child is too high?

- If you release terrorists, how to you justify your actions to the families of the terrorists' victims?

- Why does Israel try so hard to ensure the return her missing soldiers?

- Why are Israeli soldiers so valuable to Israel?

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