We wouldn’t need information and agents because if we executed them they would respect us at least enough that they don’t want o be executed for trying anything. But they know we are weak in that regard.

Impossible to extrapolate
what the Rebbe would have said in this tragic crisis.
Keeping terrorists rather than executing them yields information and even turns some in into agents for Israel.

You MAY be able to say that there is a difference here, because it’s a ratio of 3 to 1 (as opposed to 70 to 1)

but if one terrorist freed from the shalit deal planned the killing of 1200 jews, that means freeing these terrorists is endangering many more jewish lives

was it worth saving the life of shalit in exchange for 1200 other jews?

החכם עיניו בראשו

At least then it was a soldier kidnapped so it wasn’t as morally abhorrent, but Israel is negotiating with terrorists over kidnapped babies and civilians?! That’s a new low.

Now the arabs will just kidnap Jewish babies to bank leverage. And they’ll have Bibi to thank for gifting them this new reality. Shameful.

This is a very important point that doesn’t seem to have discussed much

1. In that case, there is only more reason to increase more pressure and get a better, more sensible deal
2. Correct, and yet, those “least dangerous people” are murderers who will try to murder again rl
3. It’s 100% pikuach nefesh whatever way you look at it. Especially considering that some of them were kidnapped wounded or sick. The question is how much one is allowed to put other Jewish lives at immediate risk in order to save them al pi halacha. Not even talking about diplomatic and other long term consequences.

No one disagrees that such a situation deserves more thought than “the Rebbe said it’s wrong”. But this thought must include learning what Torah says about such a situation. Unfortunately, this is not the first time in our history that yidden were held captive by an enemy in a horrific situation. There are halachos that address it.

That being said, I want all of our captive brothers and sisters safely released immediately, and daven with all my heart that they are alive, safe, and healthy biguf uvinefesh. As we all do. It takes a person of steel to follow through with such gut wrenching decisions.

Right now it’s 1:3 and only for people who attempted to murder but weren’t successful because it’s for some of the women and children.

But this is one the beginning. When it comes to negotiating for the men and Israeli soldiers their demands will be much bigger r”l and Israel is already showing that they are open to negotiating and listening to their demands etc.

The Rebbe spoke about trading one person for 70. NOT 1:3.

Of course what the Rebbe said is applicable. But it’s wrong to say that the Rebbe clearly said that any and all prisoner swaps are bad.

Keep in mind: 1. The terrorists had a lot more in mind in the beginning. The fact that such a deal is even possible is because of the intense pressure the Israelis are putting on them. That’s a far cry from just giving in and allowing many prisoners to go free because that’s what the terrorists asked for.
2. They are working very hard to let out the least dangerous people.
3. There is a serious and very real risk of all these hostages being killed R”L.

I think it deserves more thought than an overly simplified “the Rebbe said it’s wrong”.

Including making sure that they remain alive and are not captured again by the same terrorists who were freed from prison for them

The Rebbe spoke in general terms as well

Even one reporter in the “media” started to question why Israel values Palestinian lives as one third of the life of an Israeli. While the question is worded anti-semetically, including completely glossing over how those Israeli lives landed up in such a position to begin with (as opposed to actual criminal “Palestinians” in jail), not to mention that any country would “value” their own citizens lives over others, it is a very true point. Yiddishe lives are invaluable. But they cannot be “traded” that way, since that will only cause more harm to future yidden.

Shall we allow them to execute Jewish people in order to free the children? Obviously not. By now history has already taught us that releasing terrorists will cost Jewish lives. And a cease fire for 5 days is Gaza will bederech hateva also cost additional Jewish lives.

What do you mean there is no basis? Now that what the Rebbe said was sadly proven to be correct, I would say it’s even more applicable than before.

If they come with guns, even if they could hurt a jew, because of whatever reason, they deserve to die. Shulchan Aruch, 329
states that on a border, when it’s just for business that they come…we are to go out against that on Shabbat.

In regards to the first point, I would say that it is very possible Israel got away with the best scenario they could of, that being 1:3, the reason I say this, is because Israel has historically demonstrated willingness to release terrorists disproportionately, and as the rebbe says “giving in once will only invite more pressure” so I think Israel was sadly in a position that the terrorists would not have ever agreed to 1:1 ratio, they would rather kill the hostages than do that because of the expectation the have based on passed experience, and it would shame them if they show the palastinians that they have lost this point of power they always had against us. The rebbe was protesting the idea before there was any “expectations” the terrorists have about what we should give in return. In other words there’s no point in crying over spilt milk.
In regards to the second point, I’m not sure what was the rebbes reason for this, but if it is because it legitimatizes the terrorists, I think that concern might not exist here either, because the reason we don’t want to legitimize them is so the world won’t pressure us to not destroy them, but I think that in this situation, Israel is in a situation where the world is not able to demand that Israel stop the war until Hamas is not existent, because of the severity of what they did, so maybe this issue isn’t existent here either but I’m not sure.