I think perhaps Israel is being a bit hard handed, but imagine,
they depend on their army for survival, their nation is surrounded
by enemies. Their real estate isn't exactly what we'd call a prime
location.
So their army's backbone are the conscripts, just like Singapore's.
What would conscripts feel if they knew when they got kidnapped no
one would go looking for them? If you were kidnapped and put under
threat of death, which would you want? Even if they didn't say
"We'll kill your guys if you don't concede to us", I doubt their
intention was along the lines of, "Back off Israel, or we'll
subject your kidnapped soldiers to a lifelong hell of manicures and
spa treatments."
1: A bunch of suits negotiating for your release, making
concessions on your behalf and when you go home you found that
Sentosa was given to the kidnappers in order for your safe
return.
2: SWAT, HRT, Delta, SAS and the like plus our very own SOC blazing
in on armed terrorists, not civilians, the very same ones pointing
guns at your head, and when they take off that balaclava and look
at you to say, "Hey, we're Singaporeans, and we're here to take you
home to your family"
Both has its plus points. I'm not in favor of violence, but
sometimes I guess a hard strike is needed when soft approaches have
been failing. I do agree with you that hiding behind innocent and
untrained civilians is very cowardly.
