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| Israeli woman holds a photo of her murdered relative, along with a sign indicating her disgust at the release of terrorists |
Would Americans Release Terrorist Killers? - Jonathan S. Tobin
Americans should pause and wonder whether they would ever give a moment's consideration to doing what their government is twisting Israel's arm to do. Would we ever think of releasing any of those convicted and currently serving long jail sentences for involvement in the 9/11 attacks or any other terrorist assault on the United States and its citizens? Not a chance.
The American position is, as the Obama administration likes to put it, that anyone who attacks U.S. citizens will be chased down to the ends of the earth and either be snuffed by a drone attack that has the personal approval of the commander in chief or be locked away for good if they are captured. How can Americans justify demanding that Israel do something they would never do themselves.
(Commentary)
Prisoner Release - Here We Go Again - Herb Keinon
At the end of the day, with all the pain and agony that it entails, Israel will release Palestinian terrorists who murdered scores of innocent people. And these murderers will be hailed as heroes in Hebron and Ramallah and Jenin. Parades will be held in their honor, flowers thrown at the bus carrying them home, poems written about their "glorious" exploits. It matters how they are received. It sets tone and atmosphere. It says something about our peacemaking partners.
(Jerusalem Post)
The Decision to Release Palestinian Prisoners - Ron Ben-Yishai
There is no doubt that the increase in the number of prisoners slated for release constitutes a capitulation to American pressure.
The most important reason behind the decision has to do with the Iranian nuclear program. Over the next few months, apparently by next spring, Iran will become a country on the brink of weapons capability. During this time Israel will be able to stop the Iranian nuclear program, should it receive support and legitimacy from the West, and mainly from the U.S. The release of Palestinian prisoners is a reasonable price to pay for something that is so crucial for the State of Israel, according to Netanyahu's security doctrine.
(Ynet News)
Prisoner Release Prevents Serious Diplomatic Crisis with the U.S.
- Barak Ravid
Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar says he supported the prisoner release at the cabinet meeting to prevent a serious diplomatic crisis with the U.S.
(Ha'aretz)
Gradual Release of Prisoners to Keep Palestinians at Negotiations
- Herb Keinon
The idea behind the gradual release of prisoners, according to Israeli officials, is to ensure that the Palestinians uphold their commitments during the initial nine months of negotiations not to take unilateral actions against Israel in the UN, and not to immediately walk away from the negotiating table.
(Jerusalem Post)
Identities of Palestinian Prisoners Up for Release Revealed
- Yaron Druckman
They murdered Israeli men and women as well as Palestinian collaborators and were jailed prior to the signing of the Oslo Accords or immediately after.
(Ynet News)
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UPDATES:
Back on the Peace Train - Editorial
Gathering at John Kerry's home in Washington, Israeli and Palestinian officials on Monday relaunched peace negotiations. Syria is burning, Egypt is in turmoil and Jordan's king is under siege, but the Secretary of State will try to push this stone up the hill one more time.
The biggest obstacle as ever will be the inability of the Palestinian leadership to compromise. Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority for nearly a decade, inspires little confidence as a negotiating partner. His chief accomplishment has been to lose control of Gaza to Hamas, the terrorist group that denies Israel's right to exist.
The U.S. role should be as an honest broker, not as a backstage arm-twister of Netanyahu. Peace isn't possible if Palestinians aren't ready to make it on terms Israelis can live with.
(Wall Street Journal)
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How the Peace Process May Affect Jordan - Lee Smith
Were Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, Hamas would rout the PA in a matter of months and leave Jordan's King Abdullah with an Islamist group on his Western border.
What keeps Abdullah up at night is the recurring nightmare of Kerry getting a deal for a failed Palestinian state.
(Weekly Standard)
Palestinians Dismiss Prisoner Release - Khaled Abu Toameh
Of course Abbas and Fatah will present the prisoner release as a "huge achievement" by Abbas. But some Palestinians, including Abbas loyalists, see the release as a "bribe" to entice Abbas to return to the talks.
[And t]here are also Palestinians who see the release of 100 prisoners as a "minor" achievement compared to Hamas' success in securing the release of more than 1,000 inmates in return for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
(Gatestone Institute)
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2 comments:
The release of terrorist prisoners is a tacit presumption of their political status. While it is clear that Netanyahu has solid reasons for going down this road - specifically to shift the diplomatic ground in his favour vis-a vis Iran and to offer a sop to the rappprocheurs like Livni in the Knesset, it remains to be seen what political capital will be made of it by Abbas. I do not at this time believe he has sufficient momentum on the ground to bring anything new to the negotiating table and in any event, radicals and protests on the temple Mount notwithstanding, it would be unthinkable to cave in to demands to release East Jerusalem. If he did, it would almost certainly be the beginning of the end. Hamas would reluctantly rally and there would be 'the war to end all wars.'
Very succinctly put.
Thankx for your continued readership, support and insights.
B:)
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