Israel: Realpolitik Enemy Number One.

Realpolitik is responsible to a great extent for the underming of Israel's security: it all started with Shalit's release in exchange for over one thousand Palestinian prisoners held in jails.

You see, the national mentality is one of viewing hostages as the highest priority for the Israeli state and that, at least theoretically, is a monumental mistake. 

In war time, your focus should be exclusively on beating and destroying your enemy but not this time. Eliminating Hamas is only Job Two. Hostage return is Job One. The Israeli public absolutely demands nothing less, across party lines.

So, inevitably, national security will be severely damaged if or when the hostages return home. Estimates of Palestinian prisoners run from eight to ten thousand. Just imagine what happens after all of them are released. Not pretty.

Israel is boxed in ahead of time with Hamas coming out as the big winner post the return of Israeli and other Jewish hostages.

You just can't fight the trend and Hamas knows it. We should all hope and pray for the safe return of all hostages but at the same time bemoan this likely precedent. Wait until next time. How much blackmail will Israel have to endure when past once again becomes prologue?

Human life inevitably trumps national security and destruction of one's enemy. Incredibly troubling but a price Israel is seemingly prepared to pay in spades. God help Israel going forward.