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Israeli reaction to prisoner swap | Israeli reaction to prisoner swap |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Four Israelis give their views on the prisoner swap deal their government has reached with Hezbollah. | |
DONNA METREGER, 71, BER SHEVA | DONNA METREGER, 71, BER SHEVA |
Some say this shows the weakness of Israel, I think it shows our humanity. It shows we care about our soldiers. | Some say this shows the weakness of Israel, I think it shows our humanity. It shows we care about our soldiers. |
I totally agree with returning the prisoners, let Lebanon look after them. | I totally agree with returning the prisoners, let Lebanon look after them. |
It does mean however, that we have to be very careful not to get more of our soldiers kidnapped. | It does mean however, that we have to be very careful not to get more of our soldiers kidnapped. |
It also means the chances of an Israeli surviving after being kidnapped are pretty slim. | It also means the chances of an Israeli surviving after being kidnapped are pretty slim. |
I have trouble with giving back live people for dead bodies. We could have been more assertive in our dealings. But there was a whole lot of pressure on the government to do something. | I have trouble with giving back live people for dead bodies. We could have been more assertive in our dealings. But there was a whole lot of pressure on the government to do something. |
Hezbollah not telling us that the soldiers were dead - that's not politics, that's power play - "we're meaner than you". | Hezbollah not telling us that the soldiers were dead - that's not politics, that's power play - "we're meaner than you". |
I feel very sorry for Lebanese people. They are between a rock and a hard place with Hezbollah having so much power. | I feel very sorry for Lebanese people. They are between a rock and a hard place with Hezbollah having so much power. |
The main thing is that the terrorists are no longer in Israel, and the Israeli families now know where their young soldiers are. | The main thing is that the terrorists are no longer in Israel, and the Israeli families now know where their young soldiers are. |
DANIEL, 37, ENGINEER, JERUSALEM | DANIEL, 37, ENGINEER, JERUSALEM |
I'm against it, but not strongly. It's hard for me to say what the right thing to do is. | I'm against it, but not strongly. It's hard for me to say what the right thing to do is. |
I am uncomfortable with the level of pressure the families put on the government. | I am uncomfortable with the level of pressure the families put on the government. |
I would not have wanted a prisoner exchange to have taken place like this with my body | I would not have wanted a prisoner exchange to have taken place like this with my body |
There were lots of articles about what the families would do when their sons came home. I think they knew that if they accepted the possibility they were dead, the deal wouldn't happen. | There were lots of articles about what the families would do when their sons came home. I think they knew that if they accepted the possibility they were dead, the deal wouldn't happen. |
I am outraged that an organisation like the International Committee of the Red Cross capitulated to Hezbollah's terms, not giving us any information on the soldiers. | I am outraged that an organisation like the International Committee of the Red Cross capitulated to Hezbollah's terms, not giving us any information on the soldiers. |
I am a reserve soldier myself. I served in the last war and I certainly would not have wanted a prisoner exchange like this with my body. | I am a reserve soldier myself. I served in the last war and I certainly would not have wanted a prisoner exchange like this with my body. |
I also think it increases the likelihood of another kidnapping, which can't be a good thing. | I also think it increases the likelihood of another kidnapping, which can't be a good thing. |
Soldiers would have rather seen a rescue operation, even if the chances of its success weren't high. | Soldiers would have rather seen a rescue operation, even if the chances of its success weren't high. |
There wasn't a note of recrimination when the army went in to rescue Nachshon Wachsman, [captured by the Palestinians in 1994], even though he and several Israeli soldiers died in the operation. | There wasn't a note of recrimination when the army went in to rescue Nachshon Wachsman, [captured by the Palestinians in 1994], even though he and several Israeli soldiers died in the operation. |
However, this was driven by the mothers of soldiers, rather than the soldiers themselves. I send my condolences to the families. | However, this was driven by the mothers of soldiers, rather than the soldiers themselves. I send my condolences to the families. |
ROM KESHET, 34, DOCTOR, TEL AVIV | ROM KESHET, 34, DOCTOR, TEL AVIV |
On the whole, I think the deal was right. | On the whole, I think the deal was right. |
If you look at past deals, this is pretty much OK because we only gave five live terrorists away. In the past, we've released hundreds. | If you look at past deals, this is pretty much OK because we only gave five live terrorists away. In the past, we've released hundreds. |
I don't envy our leaders; they have to consider the families' and the nation's interests as a whole. It's a hard balance to find. | I don't envy our leaders; they have to consider the families' and the nation's interests as a whole. It's a hard balance to find. |
This swap might encourage more kidnapping from the other side, because they know they get a lot in return. | This swap might encourage more kidnapping from the other side, because they know they get a lot in return. |
Also, the fact we're willing to pay such a price, even for dead soldiers, may encourage them not to try to keep the hostages alive. | Also, the fact we're willing to pay such a price, even for dead soldiers, may encourage them not to try to keep the hostages alive. |
I'm a reservist. I served as a medical officer in the last war. | I'm a reservist. I served as a medical officer in the last war. |
I think soldiers and civilians too appreciate that Israel is willing to do a lot for its people, even when they're dead. | I think soldiers and civilians too appreciate that Israel is willing to do a lot for its people, even when they're dead. |
Clearly Hezbollah were not playing by the rules. They are terrorists, they have no rules, which is to their advantage. | Clearly Hezbollah were not playing by the rules. They are terrorists, they have no rules, which is to their advantage. |
I find it very, very disturbing, that a murderer such as Samir Qantar can be welcomed as a hero like this in Lebanon. | I find it very, very disturbing, that a murderer such as Samir Qantar can be welcomed as a hero like this in Lebanon. |
The Lebanese people should take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. Although, I know that not everyone in Lebanon supports Hezbollah, it raises many questions. | The Lebanese people should take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. Although, I know that not everyone in Lebanon supports Hezbollah, it raises many questions. |
MICHAEL, 30, PHD STUDENT, REHOVOT | MICHAEL, 30, PHD STUDENT, REHOVOT |
The bottom line is, I'm against this. | The bottom line is, I'm against this. |
I understand the families, really I do. It's morally wonderful that Israel goes so far to get its people back, but politically I think it might be a disaster. | I understand the families, really I do. It's morally wonderful that Israel goes so far to get its people back, but politically I think it might be a disaster. |
The other side sees our actions as a great weakness. In their eyes, this makes us look pathetic. | The other side sees our actions as a great weakness. In their eyes, this makes us look pathetic. |
For them it doesn't matter how many people die. Not least if they are ours. | For them it doesn't matter how many people die. Not least if they are ours. |
I'm not saying we have to be like them, but are we doing the right thing to swap live people for dead ones? | I'm not saying we have to be like them, but are we doing the right thing to swap live people for dead ones? |
Once you do something like this, you give power to Mr Nasrallah. | Once you do something like this, you give power to Mr Nasrallah. |
It's disgusting how they treat [Samir] Qantar [one of the released Lebanese prisoners]. | It's disgusting how they treat [Samir] Qantar [one of the released Lebanese prisoners]. |
If that's the way they're going to treat someone who killed a little girl - like a hero - what can we do? | If that's the way they're going to treat someone who killed a little girl - like a hero - what can we do? |
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