Israel to exhange live terrorists for dead soldiers

[Ed Mahmoud]

Returning live killers to Hezb'Allah in exchange for dead soldiers doesn't seem like a good idea.

Israel is turning over the bodies of those that have died, I assume while attempting to commit terror acts, plus live terrorists.

Israel approved the deal last week. In exchange for two Israeli soldiers captured two years ago by the Lebanese guerrillas, Israel is set to free Samir Qantar, a Lebanese who is serving multiple life terms for a grisly attack in 1979 in which a father, his two daughters and two policemen died. Also, Israel will free several other prisoners and return bodies of fighters.

Israel has declared that its two soldiers are dead. Their capture set off a 34-day war. The TV report said there is no firm timetable for carrying out the swap.

My understanding of Jewish tradition is that it is important to give the dead a respectful burial. But this provides incentive for more kidnappings, and provides Hezb'Allah no incentive to keep future Israeli prisoners alive.

[Chacor]

EDIT: Is this not a political thread?

[Derek Ortt]

I do not see this as a political thread.

I see this as a civics thread that merely is reporting on world news and a personal commentary. No partisan commentary was provided, JMHO

[Chacor]

No, but it has the very potent potential to go that way. I'd hope it doesn't, but trying not to be political myself, I think it's fair to say that people on s2k are very patriotic and Israel is a close American ally.

[Ed Mahmoud]

No, but it has the very potent potential to go that way. I'd hope it doesn't, but trying not to be political myself, I think it's fair to say that people on s2k are very patriotic and Israel is a close American ally.

If one uses that standard, any world news story would be potentially political.

[Chacor]

This is true, but moreso with more sensitive US-linked issues (in this case its ally Israel).

In any case, we're deviating off the discussion significantly. Let's get back on-topic and try to avoid the politics.

It's a touchy issue with most Israeli citizens, certainly. I recall a JPost columnist being interviewed on the BBC about this and he said he wrote an opinion against this.

[x-y-no]

It's not the first time such a swap has been done. I'm not sure how much difference this kind of thing makes for the prospect of a long-term solution. Hezbollah has no shortage of fighters and Israel has no shortage of resolve.

At least this will give some closure to the families.