Monday, June 30, 2008

Hamas Emboldened By Israel-Hezbollah Swap

A video grab from footage from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation showing what the station
claimed was an image of captured Israeli air force navigator Ron Arad in 2006.


From Yahoo News:

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gaza's Hamas rulers hinted Monday they would raise the stakes for a captured Israeli soldier, emboldened by Israel's decision to trade a Lebanese prisoner convicted in a brutal attack for the bodies of two other Israeli servicemen.

Hamas-affiliated militants captured Sgt. Gilad Schalit two years ago in a cross-border raid. Three weeks later, Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon burst across Israel's northern border and seized Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, touching off a monthlong war between Israel and the militant group.

After nearly two years of German-brokered negotiations, Israel's Cabinet overwhelmingly agreed Sunday to trade Goldwasser and Regev's bodies for Samir Kantar.

Read more ....

More News On Israel/Hezbollah/Hamas From Other Sources:
Lebanese to be freed in swap was sentenced in brutal 1979 attack in Israel's north -- International Herald Tribune
Israel swaps militants for soldiers' remains -- Times Online
Main points of the framework of the agreement on the release of Israel's missing and captive soldiers in Lebanon -- Israel Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Hamas says calm conditions not connected to fate of Israeli soldier -- Al Bawaba

My Comment: Short term political gain (maybe), long term pain.

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