Tourism Minister Benny Elon, one of the most outspoken opponents of the exchange, said this morning: "I fear that we are on a slippery slope, in which we have gotten used to talking with and showing respect and honor to terrorists - first Yasser Arafat, then Abu Mazen, next week Abu Ala, and soon Nasrallah."
Gen. (res.) Shimon Boyarsky, who was responsible for the Iraqi and Iranian desks in IDF military intelligence, said today that the deal unjustifiably strengthens Hizbullah and its leader. In addition, "never before have Hizbullah and Iran been more anxious for a deal with Israel, and therefore it should not have been made without Arad. What might happen now is that Iran will suddenly produce Arad, and demand a very high price for him - that we should open the prisons and release actual murderers."
Dr. Yossi Olmert, a Middle Eastern affairs expert who served as director of Israel's Government Press Office under Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir, explained to Arutz-7 today why he supports the exchange, as well as why he hopes it will serve as a springboard for a tougher policy against Hizbullah:
"Despite the pain involved in this decision, and despite the fears, and despite the contrast in the ways Arad and Tenenbaum were each taken into captivity, the bottom line is that whoever saves one life is as if he saved a whole world, and I feel that we should make the exchange...
"[Regarding Ron Arad,] it's clear that carrying out the deal will not negatively affect the chances of obtaining Ron Arad's release, if any exist - and on the other hand, it will certainly help the situation of the others...
"In response to those who say that this will detract from our deterrence, I say that this has already been reduced by our policy of weakness towards Hizbullah over the past years. In fact, it was this weakness - the humiliating way in which we ran out of Lebanon - that made this deal inevitable, because it has in fact placed us in a position of weakness compared to Hizbullah. My position is that after this exchange is carried out, we will have a clean slate and we'll be more able to fight Hizbullah freely and strongly. I hope that the government will in fact take the position that Nasrallah should not be forgiven for all the terrorism and murder he has waged against us over the past years..."
Gen. (res.) Shimon Boyarsky, who was responsible for the Iraqi and Iranian desks in IDF military intelligence, said today that the deal unjustifiably strengthens Hizbullah and its leader. In addition, "never before have Hizbullah and Iran been more anxious for a deal with Israel, and therefore it should not have been made without Arad. What might happen now is that Iran will suddenly produce Arad, and demand a very high price for him - that we should open the prisons and release actual murderers."
Dr. Yossi Olmert, a Middle Eastern affairs expert who served as director of Israel's Government Press Office under Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir, explained to Arutz-7 today why he supports the exchange, as well as why he hopes it will serve as a springboard for a tougher policy against Hizbullah:
"Despite the pain involved in this decision, and despite the fears, and despite the contrast in the ways Arad and Tenenbaum were each taken into captivity, the bottom line is that whoever saves one life is as if he saved a whole world, and I feel that we should make the exchange...
"[Regarding Ron Arad,] it's clear that carrying out the deal will not negatively affect the chances of obtaining Ron Arad's release, if any exist - and on the other hand, it will certainly help the situation of the others...
"In response to those who say that this will detract from our deterrence, I say that this has already been reduced by our policy of weakness towards Hizbullah over the past years. In fact, it was this weakness - the humiliating way in which we ran out of Lebanon - that made this deal inevitable, because it has in fact placed us in a position of weakness compared to Hizbullah. My position is that after this exchange is carried out, we will have a clean slate and we'll be more able to fight Hizbullah freely and strongly. I hope that the government will in fact take the position that Nasrallah should not be forgiven for all the terrorism and murder he has waged against us over the past years..."