The swap and the pain
The wrenching images of today's prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah – in which the Regev and Goldwasser families learned that their loves ones were dead while Israel handed over Lebanese murderer Samir Kuntar to Hezbollah – commanded the attention of all of Israel today.
Israeli media anticipated and reported on the event with a combination of pain, anger and resignation:
Media Line's David Harris, in Ynet: "The poster on the Lebanese side of the border said it all: Israel sheds tears of sorrow, Lebanon sheds tears of joy."
Ma'ariv has an interview with the man who captured Samir Kuntar (Hebrew): "After 29 years, Rami Salmon recalls the capture of the terrorist and tells of the thought that still bugs him: Would he have changed history if he shot him?"
Ha'aretz editorial: "The cabinet's approval of the prisoner swap with Hezbollah, despite the 'blatantly unsatisfactory' report the organization delivered on the fate of Ron Arad, requires the cabinet to now act urgently to free Gilad Shalit."
Jerusalem Post editorial: "The Lebanese people and government - and those others in the Arab world, including among the Palestinians, so delighted by Kuntar's release - might want to ask themselves whether this monster is worthy of such glorification. Is he the kind of man they want as their idol? And if so, what does that say about them?"
JTA's Dina Kraft has a piece in The New York Times on the old wound the swap deal reopened for the Israeli family whose life Kuntar destroyed.
Keshet TV has video footage of Goldwasser and Regev in happier times, on reserve duty in 2004.
Lebanon declared a national holiday Wednesday to welcome home Kuntar and the other terrorists released from Israel (Channel 10 and Ha'aretz): Watch video.
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Just another reminder that there is NO room for peace in the israeli-arab conflict. My suggestion is to build a great wall between Lebanon and Israel and Israel and Syria, etc, then probably in 100 years the people will learn that they can’t live without each other. It worked for Germany, it could work here too!
M-
This prisoner exchange simply demonstrates the civility and value Israel places on the lives of its citizens vs. the primitive disgusting values of the terrorists, who do not value human life, and who celebrate the return of a murderer, who killed a 4 year old child and her father in cold blood. Hizbollah is also trying to take over Lebanon. For the left wing apologists who claim that terrorist threats are simply fabrications by conservatives, you cowards will be the first to retreat, while allowing those you criticize to fight in your behalf.
As of today the State of Israel has ceased to be a place of safe refuge for Jews. Indeed, I feel that Israel has now forfeited any entitlement whatsoever to default support and allegiance from any Jew anywhere. I hope the United States in short order declares Israel to be a failed state and opens its borders to Israeli citizens; they should be considered refugees since their government has abandoned all responsibility for their safety and wellbeing by this craven, feckless “exchange”.
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Roger
07/16/08 01:42 PM
I am Lebanese. I think the Arab-Israeli conflict goes beyond individuals like Kuntar or Goldwasser, but I believe that the state of Israel for once has shown that they can be human and forgiving. It is unfortunate to release a person who murdered an innocent child. I think Hizbollah should learn a lesson from this and maybe just mabe start thinking about some ways to make peace with Israel so many children would be saved in years to come. That is what I would say to Nasrallah.