Israel Trades Live Terrorists For Dead Soldier Remains

Israel today received two coffins containing the remains of Israeli reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. These two soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah while in Israel in the summer 2006. The abduction of these soldiers on Israel's own territory lead to the summer battle against Hezbollah in 2006, a battle which Hezbollah by all measures won. During that war Hezbollah fired many rockets randomly at northern Israel targeting civilians including those in cities such as Haifa. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ran a bungled and incompetent military campaign against Hezbollah. He promised the complete destruction of the terrorist group, something that obviously did not come close to happening. The Israelis achieved very little objectives, such as crushing Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah, or recapturing the two soldiers. Since that war Hezbollah has gone on to take the entire government of Lebanon hostage through voilence and has proven that it has the strong arm in Beirut. Though Hezbollah does not hold the most important cabinet positions it amazingly gained complete veto power over all government decisions. The Hezbollah terrorists violence against their fellow Arabs and countrymen took place this past May killing at least 81 people.

After launching a war without the will to attain the promised objective Ehud Olmert's government turned to negotiating with the Islamoterrorist enemy that captured its soldiers, killed innocent Israelis, and desires the complete destruction of the Jewish State. Olmert's government agreed to release Lebanese terrorist Samir Kuntar and four other captured Lebanese terrorists in exchange for the two bodies. Kuntar has been serving four life sentences in Israeli prison after murdering four innocent Israelis in northern Israel including a father and his young daughter in 1979. For Israel to be exchanging terrorists responsible for murdering their own citizens in exchange for bodies is inexcusable. Of course I appreciate that the families can now bury their sons and let them rest in peace. Even so, there is no excuse for releasing these terrorists, for negotiating with terrorists, and for exchanging live terrorists who can see to it upon their release that there are more Israeli bodies to be buried.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a statement that "this is a day of removal of doubt. Certainly with regards to the fate of Udi and Eldad, may their memories be blessed, but also regarding the moral and ethical power of Israel." I disagree. It shows the weakness of Israel. It shows Israel's enemies that if they kidnap and kill Israeli soldiers they will be rewarded with the release of terrorists. It provides an incentive for continued kidnapping and killing. It is not moral nor is it ethical to release five terrorists for two dead bodies.


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