From the founding of the country in 1948 until 1982 Israel maintained a policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists.
By Hezy Laing
Israel’s history of negotiating with terrorist groups is complex and often controversial. While the official stance has long been that the state does not negotiate with terrorists, reality has shown that Israel has, at times, given in to the temptation, especially when hostages or soldiers were involved.
The earliest notable instance dates back to 1982. During the Lebanon war, six Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Fatah operatives. In exchange for them, Israel agreed to release over 4,500 Palestinian prisoners—a controversial move that sparked internal debate about the limits of Israel’s hostage policy.
In 1985 Israel agreed to release 1,150 Arab terrorists in exchange for three captured IDF soldiers. Among those freed was Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who would later founded the Hamas. This marked a turning point, demonstrating that hostage-taking could yield major, harmful concessions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently stated that “you don’t negotiate with terrorists,” reinforcing Israel’s official position. His writings and speeches emphasize the dangers of legitimizing terror through concessions, even when humanitarian concerns are at stake. The reality has been very different.
In 2011, Israel made one of its most dramatic deals: the Gilad Shalit exchange. Shalit, an IDF soldier captured by Hamas in 2006, was traded for 1,027 Arab terrorists, many of whom had been convicted of violent attacks. The deal faced fierce opposition from within Israel. Victims’ advocacy groups like the Almagor Terror Victims Association filed legal petitions to block the exchange, arguing that negotiating with Hamas would encourage further abductions and undermine national security. But media and public pressure to bring Shalit home ultimately prevailed.
The pattern intensified after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, when over 250 hostages were taken into Gaza. In response, Israel entered into multiple ceasefire agreements that included the release of thousands of Arab terrorists, including those who had murdered Jews. These negotiations were not framed as formal recognition of Hamas, but rather as tactical moves.
But from the founding of the country in 1948 until 1982 Israel had long maintained a policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorist organizations, especially when doing so could legitimize violence or incentivize future attacks. Several notable examples illustrate Israel’s firm stance against negotiation.
Sabena Flight 571 (1972)
Two Palestinian terrorists hijacked a Belgian airliner en route to Tel Aviv. Israeli commandos disguised as technicians stormed the plane at Ben Gurion Airport. The operation lasted minutes, resulting in the rescue of all 90 hostages, the death of one hijacker, and the capture of the other. Future Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu both participated in the raid.
Operation Entebbe (1976)
Perhaps the most iconic example, this mission involved the rescue of over 100 hostages held by Palestinian and German terrorists at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Israeli commandos flew thousands of kilometers, stormed the terminal, and freed the hostages in under an hour. The operation was a stunning success, though it cost the life of Yonatan Netanyahu, the mission commander.
