Emmanuel Moreno's Unexecuted Rescue Plan Could Have Changed Israeli History

Twenty years after the tragic events of a difficult Saturday night, new details have emerged about a rescue plan proposed by Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Moreno, who was killed in Lebanon shortly after the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit. Moreno reportedly developed a detailed operation to rescue Shalit and presented it to the Israeli Chief of Staff and Prime Minister, but it was rejected due to concerns over potential casualties among the rescuers. This revelation adds a significant chapter to the story of that period, highlighting the frustration and anger Moreno felt over the leadership's reluctance to act.

The article recalls the deaths of two soldiers on that same Saturday: Roi Fregon, the first casualty of the Nitzach Yehuda Battalion, who was killed in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint in the Jordan Valley, and Emmanuel Moreno, who died following a military operation in Lebanon. Moreno was known as a dedicated volunteer and leader, and his rescue plan for Shalit was only recently confirmed by multiple sources, including a testimony from a survivor of Operation Entebbe.

Had Moreno's plan been implemented successfully, Israel might have avoided the 2011 Shalit prisoner exchange deal that released over 1,000 prisoners, including hundreds responsible for attacks against Israelis and prominent terror leaders such as Yahya Sinwar. The article also notes that one of the terrorists involved in the attack that killed Roi Fregon was released in that same prisoner exchange.

Despite the disappointment with the leadership's decision at the time, the article pays tribute to the bravery and dedication of soldiers like Moreno, Fregon, and their comrades across various elite units, whose efforts have prevented many attacks and massacres. It emphasizes the importance of remembering both the known and unknown sacrifices made by these fighters.