130 Selected Responsa
The family has accepted this and followed that path so that there has been little contact with the captors. As several months have elapsed and despite constant contact with the American authorities, there is little sign of any resolution, the desperation of the family members can be understood.
As rescue of captives is such an important obligation and mandatory, the family must seek all possible paths which can further this aim. Initially it seemed best to follow the warnings of the governments and to allow them to pursue this matter quietly with the hope of success. During these months the family has avoided any publicity and has left it in the hands of the government. Since so much time has elapsed, it is appropriate to now follow the road of negotiating themselves. If they need additional help they should involve their community and the media as well. Negotiation and public pressure may assure a positive outcome.
The matter may have become so political that the local
government is unwilling to move further and simply delays. Placing all of this into a much broader context may be their national interest, but we are concerned with a single individual who is not involved In the political struggle at all and is an innocent bystander
We would make a distinction between the role of the government and its broad concerns and that of the family which needs to look after the safety of a single individual. Should this person who is not involved in the revolutionary struggle and whose company 13 in a business which also had no impact on the revolution, suffer as a0 innocent cog in the wheel? Our answer would be negative, the family should proceed with all means at its disposal and rescue the individual. It should seek to do so quietly, if that is possible and sO act within the boundaries set by the United States government. which have not been advisory, not mandatory.