By a slim majority of only one vote, and after a full-day discussion, the Cabinet approved the exchange of prisoners with Hizbullah this afternoon. Terrorists who murdered civilians will not be released.
"You all know what the main issue of today's meeting is, so there's no need to add words on the importance of the decision." So said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the start of this morning's Cabinet session, which dealt exclusively with the prisoner exchange agreement with Hizbullah. The stakes are high: the return of Elchanan Tenenbaum and the proper burial of three IDF soldiers, and on the other hand the release of over 400 terrorists and the possible shrinking of the chances to obtain the return of Ron Arad.
Hizbullah terrorist chieftain Sheikh Nasrallah threw a monkey-wrench into the deal last night, demanding the release of Samir Kuntar. Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea from Lebanon in 1979, and murdered Danny Haran and his daughter Einat after abducting them from their Nahariya apartment, as well as policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who died when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Two terrorists were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and the third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985. Kuntar is held in relatively comfortable conditions - eight prisoners in a ten-bed cell - and as a member of the prisoners' committee, he has been known to support riots and prison violence.
Hizbullah terrorist chieftain Nasrallah said last night that he would not approve the deal and would not release Tenenbaum and the three bodies without Kuntar. Prime Minister Sharon, for his part, is said to be equally resolute *not* to release the murderer. He is willing to include four Lebanese who were involved in battles in Lebanon in which IDF soldiers were killed or wounded, but not terrorists who killed Israelis on Israeli territory. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced his support for the deal only after a clause was inserted ensuring that no terrorists who murdered Israeli civilians would be released in the exchange.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz announced late last night that he would support the exchange, after reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Sharon on increased efforts on behalf of Ron Arad. The two agreed, according to a government press release, on "additional steps regarding captive Air Force navigator Ron Arad, which will be under the supervision of the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister."
Supporters of all the families involved demonstrated all day outside the Prime Minister's office this morning, in favor and against the deal. Tami Arad, Ron's wife who has not seen him in 17 years, said last night, "I have a feeling that I am about to start the funeral service for Ron - but it won't be one or two hours long, like a usual funeral, but one that will last another 17 years."
"You all know what the main issue of today's meeting is, so there's no need to add words on the importance of the decision." So said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the start of this morning's Cabinet session, which dealt exclusively with the prisoner exchange agreement with Hizbullah. The stakes are high: the return of Elchanan Tenenbaum and the proper burial of three IDF soldiers, and on the other hand the release of over 400 terrorists and the possible shrinking of the chances to obtain the return of Ron Arad.
Hizbullah terrorist chieftain Sheikh Nasrallah threw a monkey-wrench into the deal last night, demanding the release of Samir Kuntar. Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea from Lebanon in 1979, and murdered Danny Haran and his daughter Einat after abducting them from their Nahariya apartment, as well as policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who died when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Two terrorists were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and the third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985. Kuntar is held in relatively comfortable conditions - eight prisoners in a ten-bed cell - and as a member of the prisoners' committee, he has been known to support riots and prison violence.
Hizbullah terrorist chieftain Nasrallah said last night that he would not approve the deal and would not release Tenenbaum and the three bodies without Kuntar. Prime Minister Sharon, for his part, is said to be equally resolute *not* to release the murderer. He is willing to include four Lebanese who were involved in battles in Lebanon in which IDF soldiers were killed or wounded, but not terrorists who killed Israelis on Israeli territory. Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced his support for the deal only after a clause was inserted ensuring that no terrorists who murdered Israeli civilians would be released in the exchange.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz announced late last night that he would support the exchange, after reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Sharon on increased efforts on behalf of Ron Arad. The two agreed, according to a government press release, on "additional steps regarding captive Air Force navigator Ron Arad, which will be under the supervision of the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister."
Supporters of all the families involved demonstrated all day outside the Prime Minister's office this morning, in favor and against the deal. Tami Arad, Ron's wife who has not seen him in 17 years, said last night, "I have a feeling that I am about to start the funeral service for Ron - but it won't be one or two hours long, like a usual funeral, but one that will last another 17 years."