Israel approves prisoner exchange with Hezbollah

[The Grim Squeaker]

Israel approves prisoner exchange

Israel's cabinet has approved a prisoner swap with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The swap would see the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah two years ago.

The Lebanese prisoners to be freed reportedly include Samir Qantar, in jail for murder since 1979.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier that the two soldiers were dead. Their capture triggered Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in mid-2006.

The cabinet approved the German-brokered exchange by 22 votes out of 25 present at the meeting, Israeli radio reported.

Controversial exchange

Before the vote, Mr Olmert had urged his cabinet to approve the swap, even though he said the two soldiers were probably dead.

"We know what happened to them," Mr Olmert was quoted telling his cabinet by the Associated Press.

He said they had probably been killed during the raid or shortly after. Evidence from the scene of their capture indicated that at least one of them was badly wounded.

"There is no doubt that today's discussion has special weight and is exceptionally sensitive in terms of its national and moral implications," Mr Olmert said before cabinet convened.

Observers say it is the first time the Israeli government has confirmed that Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev are no longer alive.

Critics have opposed swapping prisoners for the bodies of dead Israeli troops.

In exchange for the soldiers, it is reported that five Lebanese detainees are to be set free and the bodies of about 10 militants handed over.

One of these is said to be Samir Qantar, who has been in jail since 1979 for his part in a deadly guerrilla raid.

His release would be controversial in Israel because of his role in the deaths of three members of one family, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem.

Hezbollah has given no public indication that the two Israeli soldiers are still alive.

The Red Cross has never been allowed to see them and many in Israel assume they are dead.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war after the soldiers were seized by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid into Israel in July 2006.

Germany has been trying to broker a prisoner exchange since the war ended.

On 1 June, Hezbollah handed over the remains of five Israeli soldiers killed in the war.

The remains were delivered after Israel released a Lebanese-born man who had served six years in prison for spying for Hezbollah.

Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

He was seized in a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange.

Posted without any comment whatsoever.

[Kanastrous]

Releasing a known killer who presumably intends upon killing again as soon as practical, seems like a poor trade for a couple of corpses that don't serve a purpose except providing something to be buried.

[Anguirus]

How does that qualify as a "prisoner exchange?"

[Adrian Laguna]

Most "prisoner exchanges" done by the Israeli government are fucking retarded. The only thing that's worth a couple of corpses for is another couple of corpses. Yet they have sometimes released hundreds of prisoners in exchange for dead people. Marginally less retarded is when they do 1000-to-1 prisoner exchanges. As if the Israelis weren't already on the wrong side of a demographic imbalance.

[Ace Pace]

Only in the demented eyes of Israeli journalists and spin doctors. It's a complete failure, handing over dozens of prisoners and relatively high ranking people for corpses. Israel has taken the 'no man left behind' idea and turned into multi-year affairs involving hundreds of people for a few corpses, or in recent years, corrupt business man.

[Darth Wong]

The "no man left behind" idea has been a strategic weakness in first-world militaries for quite a while now. It's the reason the infamous "Blackhawk Down" raid turned into such a colossal cluster-fuck.

[Pulp Hero]

Though the difference being that in Somolia there were survivors or possibly of survivors (pilots of downed Blackhawks).

With this Israeli deal, they know exactly what they're getting, and it can only encourage militants. I mean, it gives absolutely no incentive for Hezbollah or anyone else to take live (and more troublesome) Israeli POWs in the future, when their government will pay up as much for corpses.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Only in the demented eyes of Israeli journalists and spin doctors. It's a complete failure, handing over dozens of prisoners and relatively high ranking people for corpses. Israel has taken the 'no man left behind' idea and turned into multi-year affairs involving hundreds of people for a few corpses, or in recent years, corrupt business man.

It's suprising that there hasn't been a seesaw back in the other direction.
The turn towards "hundreds of terrorists for one man or body parts" imbalance has bene going on since Ron Arad wasn't returned for something like 5 terrorists, due to the outcry on the case beforehand where there was a public outcry over hundreds being handed over for a few people.
It usually seesawed back and forth over the years, but the swing has had a block of concrete taped to the bottom of the swing, and the trend has remained towards "hundreds of ours for one of them".
In addition, the ISraeli military takes "No man left behind" and "We'll do anything to keep your children safe while they're with us" to greater extremes than even the US, due to the moral need to justify the conscription model. ("Don't worry, mothers of Israel, we'll keep your children safe no matter what the cost" etc').

[CJvR]

Well one can always hope the IDF will drop a few cluster bombs on the Hizbs victory parade.

[eyl]

Well one can always hope the IDF will drop a few cluster bombs on the Hizbs victory parade.

If only..

If our leaders had any brains, they'd at least try to rain on Hizbullah's parade somewhat - e.g., when the swap takes place, send out Arabic-language broadcasts describing Kuntar's crimes in detail and emphasizing that Hizbullah only managed to capture two Israeli corpses as opposed to the hundreds that are getting releaed. (I'm not deluding myself that this will have a great effec, but at least it will have some[i/] - there are already Arab media sources making the second point, and Nasrallah lost some points a few months ago for "haggling in body parts"). Sad to say, I doubt they'll do anything of the kind (or anything else useful)

[Adrian Laguna]

The "no man left behind" idea has been a strategic weakness in first-world militaries for quite a while now.

It is, however, a tactical and operational advantage. Troops that know they will be rescued if they are cut-off or captured have better morale, and are more willing to act aggressively. It also helps home-front morale, which is a strategic advantage. I don't think it is a bad attitude if kept within reason. The key to doing that is to recognize that a dead man has already been left behind, and there is nothing more you can do for him.

It's the reason the infamous "Blackhawk Down" raid turned into such a colossal cluster-fuck.

Hardly a cluster-fuck, they suffered 19 killed, 73 wounded, 1 captured, and two helicopters lost. I don't know what percentage of the wounded were be unable to return to active duty, but the total irretrievable losses probably amount to about the same as two fully loaded choppers colliding.

[Sea Skimmer]

Hardly a cluster-fuck, they suffered 19 killed, 73 wounded, 1 captured, and two helicopters lost. I don't know what percentage of the wounded were be unable to return to active duty, but the total irretrievable losses probably amount to about the same as two fully loaded choppers colliding.

18 killed; the often used 19 is simply wrong, and counts a man killed two days later by mortar fire. The US base at the city airport was routinely attacked with mortar fire before and after the battle. Even within the assets valuable a lot could have been done to reduce those losses too, especially calling in the whole squadron of Cobras the 10th Mountain division had eight hours earlier.