Israeli Idiocy No. 1 - Arab Murderer Released

Kuntar victim's family outraged by his return to terror

Notorious terrorist released in exchange for soldiers' bodies filmed
training with rocket launcher, family of policeman he killed lament
realization of their worst fears: 'We feel sorry for the next family'
Yael Levy YNET Published: 10.07.08, 18:38 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3606664,00.html


Eliyahu Shahar's family were perturbed, but not in any way surprised by the
images displayed to the world this week of Samir Kuntar engaging in weapons
training.

Shahar was killed by a terror cell led by Kuntar into the northern coastal
town of Nahariya in 1979. It was during that raid that Kuntar also murdered
Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter Einat.

An appeal filed by the Shahar family to prevent Kuntar's release was
rejected by the High Court of Justice. He was repatriated to Lebanon along
with several other terrorists and the bodies of hundreds of Lebanese
fighters in return for the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

"The Kuntar deal was despicable, we said from the onset that it's something
we would grow to regret," Yoram Shahar on Tuesday after watching the video
of Kuntar training with live gunfire and shells.

"What we saw in this movie is just the tip of the iceberg. Kuntar will carry
out a major attack against Israel, which has placed its fate squarely in the
hands of murderers," said an irate Shahar.

"I opposed Kuntar's release not because I was against having the captives
returned. I was opposed to watching the government throw sand in the eyes of
the public to prevent them from seeing the full picture, who it was that
they were setting free.

"This is a man who tried to carry out a terror attack against Israel at the
age of 14, and was arrested by the Jordanians. It must be understood - once
a terrorist, always a terrorist."

Shahar asserts Kuntar was released out of political considerations: "It
pains me that Ehud Olmert wanted to create a media spin, and so let him go.

"If people in Israel had the full picture, everyone would have been against
his release. You have to understand, this person sat in jail for 30 years
and spent that time priming himself for a major attack. He now knows exactly
where our weaknesses are," said Shahar.

Eliyahu's second brother, Haim, says the video proves the family was right
to appeal the deal. "I want the High Court of Justice, which twice rejected
our case, to sit down and watch these images.As someone who has served this
country, and who continues to volunteer even today, I am very upset. This is
how they (the court) pay us back."

Shahar stressed that his family was not out to avenge his brother's death,
only to prevent future attacks. "I wish I could go to Lebanon on my own,"
says Haim, "I would go destroy him. This is not a vendetta. My brother will
not rise from his grave if Kuntar dies.

Haim said that his family members paid a heavy personal price following
Eliyahu's death. "My mother died from the grief. Yet after everything we
endured, Kuntar was let go and now he's back to his old habits. This ruined
us, and he's just continued with his life."

Yoram said he laments the feeling of national helplessness: "We are the
strongest nation in the world. I ask Olmert - why don't we get (Hamas
leader) Ismail Haniyeh and trade him for (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit,
just like they snatched Mustafa Dirani from his bed. That's the kind of
country I want to live in," he said.

"We just give and give, and the world's terrorists see this and understand
that hey, they really should carry out more kidnappings. We need to
understand that we are fighting for our existence, and I feel sorry for the
next family in line," added Shahar.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=40973