1:22PM IL: The cabinet a short time ago gave its final approval to the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner exchange deal, removing the final possible obstacle from the planned prisoner exchange, scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
Israel will be releasing convicted master terrorist Samir Kuntar, along with four other Lebanese terrorists and the bodies and remains of 190 terrorists. In return, Israel will receive IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, both presumed dead according to military intelligence and government statements.
The Lebanese daily ‘al-Akhbar’ reported on Tuesday morning stated preparations for the prisoner exchange were underway; adding one of the soldiers was dead. The report added the second was seriously injured when he was taken captive on July 12, 2006. The report appeared intentionally vague; not indicating which of the two was dead and who may still be alive. The report does not have credibility according to Israeli sources, with most officials viewing it as more of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s psychological warfare. During recent days, there have also been other Arab media reports that actually stated one of the soldiers is alive, and yet other reports stating, “Israel is in for a big surprise”.
Justice Minister Daniel Friedman opposed the deal, but stated he will nevertheless fulfill his ministerial duties and sign the necessary paperwork to permit Kuntar’s release. The other two ministers opposing the deal were Housing Minister Ze’ev Boim and Finance Minister Roni Bar-On.
Minister of National Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer voted in favor of the deal, explaining he saw the faces of the pained families before his eyes when the vote took place, but he called the Hizbullah report on Ron Arad “a big joke”.
Minister of Social Affairs Yitzchak Herzog stated “we must bring our sons home, even if the other side parades on the streets.” He too voted in favor as did Shas leader, Minister or Industry & Trade Eli Yishai, who stated that in past deals, Israel paid an even heavier price to obtain the return of soldiers.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a second petition filed by the family of slain policeman Eliyahu Shachar, one of Samir Kuntar’s victims in the 1979 attack. The court dismissed the petition without even hearing it.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
Whenever I read about these prisoner exchanges, I am reminded of what someone once said:
“Israel should infect them with the Aids virus before returning them.”
He’s got a point. Maybe not Aids per se, but it is a plan that could be pulled off without anyone catching on. Why send them home empty handed? Give them a present to take with them!!