Copyright 2003 Haaretz
September 21
HEADLINE: Ministers express misgivings about Hezbollah swap
BYLINE: Amos Harel
Release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners cited as stumbling block by hawkish cabinet members
Opposition is growing in the cabinet to a proposed
prisoner exchange with Hezbollah, particularly if
the swap entails the release of dozens of
Palestinian prisoners. Justifying their
opposition, ministers from right-wing parties said
that such a prisoner release would provide
incentive for future attempts to kidnap Israelis.
Last week, Hezbollah leader
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah claimed
that a prisoner exchange deal
was near completion, and that
it would include the release of
Palestinian prisoners. An
exchange deal under such terms
had been discussed, Israeli
officials confirmed, even
though Israel has in the past
refused to consider a Palestinian prisoner
release as part of such an agreement with
Hezbollah.
Under the deal currently in the works, the
Lebanese organization will release Israeli
citizen Elhanan Tannenbaum, as well as the
remains of three kidnapped Israel Defense
Forces soldiers, Benny Avraham, Omar Suwad and
Adi Avitan, who are presumed dead. Israel, for
its part, will free Lebanese nationals who are
currently in its prisons; these would include
Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Abd al Karim Obeid.
On Friday, Minister of Housing and Construction
Effi Eitam told Haaretz that he would oppose
the "massive release of Palestinian prisoners"
in a deal with Hezbollah. Eitam explained:
"Notwithstanding the personal anguish I feel
for the kidnapped [Israelis], and my
commiseration with their families, it would be
wrong to go too far. We must uphold the state's
interests.
"The moment kidnapping proves itself as an
effective means of releasing prisoners who have
`blood on their hands,' the lives of all
Israelis everywhere will be at risk," continued
Eitam. "That could lead to an increase in
kidnap operations."
Should the Palestinian prisoner release be
included within the deal, "it would be a major
gain for Hezbollah," Eitam said, adding that
Past experience had taught that released
prisoners return to terror.