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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel to go ahead with Hezbollah prisoner swap
2008-07-16
Israel formally pardoned a high-profile Lebanese prisoner on Tuesday to set in motion the process of a prisoner swap with Hezbollah expected to get under way today.

Hours after Israel's cabinet gave its final approval, President Shimon Peres said he had used his powers under the law to pardon Samir Qantar, whose freedom Hezbollah sought in exchange for the release of two Israeli soldiers held since 2006.

Mr. Peres said he had "made this difficult decision" despite what he called "unbearable pain." He insisted "this decision in no way constitutes forgiveness" for Qantar, who had been jailed for life for an attack in which two children and three other Israelis died in 1979. Officials said the Cabinet voted 22-3 to ratify the exchange. "This is not a happy day for any of us, to release murderers such as these. But we have a moral and soulful obligation to bring our soldiers home," Mr. Peres said before the vote.
Actually, you don't. Hezbollah has a moral and soulful obligation to refrain from kidnapping, which is whatcha might call an unlawful policy. Having indulged in it, it's incumbent on them to return those they kidnapped and make restitution. It is incumbent upon the Israeli government to ensure there are no more kidnappings -- by making the consequences of such a crime more costly that the successful execution of it.
Posted by:Fred

#4  the moral obligation is to their soldiers, not to Hezbollah.

I'm sure that the very last thing the two soldiers would have wanted was for their lifeless corpses to be used by their government to grant Hezbollah a stupendous humiliation of Israel.

Shameful.
Posted by: Bulldog   2008-07-16 15:18  

#3  this is worth reading, discusses mainly the negative aspects of the deal, but also throws light on other things

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330981836&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-07-16 09:40  

#2  and BTW, if I was (heaven forbid) Sami Qantar, Id go as far "underground" as possible right away.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-07-16 09:15  

#1  the moral obligation is to their soldiers, not to Hezbollah.

The soldiers are both dead, by the way. May He who makes peace in Heaven, send peace to those who mourn for them.

As for inflicting pain on Hezbollah, this clears to the deck to some degree. Israel's direct option in Lebanon are rather limited - but I think Israel is looking past Hezbollah to their sponsors, and this is one step in making an attack on those sponsors easier.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-07-16 09:14  

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