Hizbullah has still not issued an official reaction to yesterday's Israeli Cabinet decision to remove terrorist murderers from the hostage deal. The Cabinet narrowly approved yesterday the exchange in which 400 terrorists will be released, in return for Elchanan Tenenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers who were abducted and killed. However, at the behest of Finance Minister Netanyahu and Public Security Minister HaNegbi, the deal specifically excluded all terrorists who fit the description of the murderer Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese Druze. Hizbullah chief Nasrallah has said that he would not agree to the deal if it does not include Kuntar.
Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea in 1979, abducted and murdered Danny Haran and his young daughter Einat, and killed policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who became the fourth victim of the attack when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Kuntar is the only remaining imprisoned terrorist from that attack, as two of his colleagues were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and a third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom made clear this morning that Israel would not agree to release Kuntar, as his crime of murdering a family is "unforgivable." Shalom acknowledged that this is "liable to lead to a lack of agreement by the other side [Hizbullah]," but said, "Israel, too, has its red lines."
Many of those who objected to the deal on the Israeli side felt that it closed the door on any chances of seeing the return of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad. However, Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Mofaz, in their meeting on Saturday night, agreed on a new and more offensive policy regarding Arad - including offensive operations designed to pressure Iran into divulging information on the long-missing Israeli. Sources close to the Defense Minister intimated that these could include abductions.
Kuntar and three other terrorists infiltrated into Israel by sea in 1979, abducted and murdered Danny Haran and his young daughter Einat, and killed policeman Eliyahu Shachar. Danny's wife hid in a side room with their 2-year-old daughter Yael, who became the fourth victim of the attack when her mother attempted to stifle her cries. Kuntar is the only remaining imprisoned terrorist from that attack, as two of his colleagues were killed in the ensuing chase by security forces, and a third was released from Israeli prison in the Jibril exchange in 1985.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom made clear this morning that Israel would not agree to release Kuntar, as his crime of murdering a family is "unforgivable." Shalom acknowledged that this is "liable to lead to a lack of agreement by the other side [Hizbullah]," but said, "Israel, too, has its red lines."
Many of those who objected to the deal on the Israeli side felt that it closed the door on any chances of seeing the return of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad. However, Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Mofaz, in their meeting on Saturday night, agreed on a new and more offensive policy regarding Arad - including offensive operations designed to pressure Iran into divulging information on the long-missing Israeli. Sources close to the Defense Minister intimated that these could include abductions.