Hostage Negotiations
Question
I was wondering if you could tell me what the halacha says about what to do in terms of hostage negotiations. What is the right thing to do to get hostages back? Is exchanging 100s of terrorists and criminals for less than a handful of hostages both dead and alive the correct course of action? I just wondered considering the chances that these people can then potentially kill so many more people. I look forward to hearing your response.
Regards
Hayley
Answers
The whole issue of hostage negotiations and what is the correct thing to do according to the Halacha is a source of great controversy. There are authorities who bring many “ironclad” proofs that it is completely forbidden to make imbalanced hostage swaps. On the other hand, there are equally great authorities who rule that it is an enormous Mitzvah to do whatever needs to be done to gain the release of the hostages. They also bring “ironclad” proofs for their opinion. And then there are authorities who rule that it is permissible to make imbalanced hostage swaps – even though the whole idea revolts them.
As you can see, the entire issue is one that is Halachically complex and also one that engenders the most enormous emotional outcry from everybody – regardless of their political leanings.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team