Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) greets the released prisoner Gilad Shalit while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greets a newly released prisoner after a landmark prisoner swap between the two nations. (Photo by Reuters)
The prisoner exchange deal that secured the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and Israeli army officer Gilad Shalit has elicited impassioned reactions from both sides.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas hailed the newly released prisoners as “freedom fighters” whereas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning that if any freed prisoners take part in any new attacks on Israel, they may face mortal danger.
“We thank God for your return and your safety,” Abbas said, as he greeted the 477 Palestinian prisoners released in the first stage of the swap and taken to the grave of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas hailed the newly released prisoners as “freedom fighters” whereas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning that if any freed prisoners take part in any new attacks on Israel, they may face mortal danger.
“We thank God for your return and your safety,” Abbas said, as he greeted the 477 Palestinian prisoners released in the first stage of the swap and taken to the grave of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank.
“You are freedom fighters and holy warriors for the sake of God and the homeland,” Abbas said in his welcome speech in the West Bank city of Ramallah, near Jerusalem.
For Palestinians, it was a time to celebrate what Hamas also hailed as a victory, and a heroes’ welcome awaited the released prisoners. Palestinians see brethren jailed by Israel as prisoners of war in a struggle for statehood.
“This is the greatest joy for the Palestinian people,” said Azzia al-Qawasmeh, who waited at a West Bank checkpoint for her son Amer, whom she said had been in prison for 24 years.
On the other side, Netanyahu said in a speech at an Air Force Base in central Israel, that “it’s still a difficult day.”
He had gone to welcome Shalit home after an emotive conversation with his waiting parents.
“The price was heavy,” Netanyahu said and warned that “[released prisoners] who return to terror are taking their life in their hands.”
Netanyahu said he told Shalit’s parents: “I brought your boy home,” as he waited with them at the air base for the soldier’s helicopter to land.
Shalit’s parents had waged a public campaign to urge the right-wing leader to do more to secure his release and had set up a protest tent near Netanyahu’s residence.
The army soldier was reunited with his family just after 1 p.m. local time. He saluted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival in Israel.
“How good that you have returned home,” Netanyahu told Shalit as he embraced him, reported various Israeli media outlets.
Some see the prisoner deal as a boost for Hamas at the expense of Abbas, who has renounced violence in favor of negotiation but has so far failed to see years of talks with Israel produce major progress toward a Palestinian state.
The repatriation of captured soldiers, alive or dead, has long been an emotionally charged issue for Israelis. Many have served in the military as conscripts and see it as sacrosanct.
But they also feel stung by the high price they feel Israel is paying for Shalit. The deal received a green light from Israel’s Supreme Court late on Monday after it rejected petitions from relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks to prevent the mass release.
Palestinians set free included Nasser Yatayma, serving a life sentence for involvement in a suicide bombing that killed 30 people attending a Jewish Passover seder, or traditional meal, in a hotel in central Israel in 2002.
Amana Mona, a Palestinian activist from the West Bank, was also released. She was jailed for life for using an Internet chatroom and promises of sex to lure a 16-year-old Israeli to his death in 2001, when she was 24.
Shalit was abducted in June 2006 by militants who tunneled into Israel from the Gaza Strip and surprised his tank crew, killing two of his comrades. He was whisked back into Gaza and has since been held incommunicado.
Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, tightened its blockade of the small coastal enclave after Shalit’s disappearance.
For Palestinians, it was a time to celebrate what Hamas also hailed as a victory, and a heroes’ welcome awaited the released prisoners. Palestinians see brethren jailed by Israel as prisoners of war in a struggle for statehood.
“This is the greatest joy for the Palestinian people,” said Azzia al-Qawasmeh, who waited at a West Bank checkpoint for her son Amer, whom she said had been in prison for 24 years.
On the other side, Netanyahu said in a speech at an Air Force Base in central Israel, that “it’s still a difficult day.”
He had gone to welcome Shalit home after an emotive conversation with his waiting parents.
“The price was heavy,” Netanyahu said and warned that “[released prisoners] who return to terror are taking their life in their hands.”
Netanyahu said he told Shalit’s parents: “I brought your boy home,” as he waited with them at the air base for the soldier’s helicopter to land.
Shalit’s parents had waged a public campaign to urge the right-wing leader to do more to secure his release and had set up a protest tent near Netanyahu’s residence.
The army soldier was reunited with his family just after 1 p.m. local time. He saluted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival in Israel.
“How good that you have returned home,” Netanyahu told Shalit as he embraced him, reported various Israeli media outlets.
Some see the prisoner deal as a boost for Hamas at the expense of Abbas, who has renounced violence in favor of negotiation but has so far failed to see years of talks with Israel produce major progress toward a Palestinian state.
The repatriation of captured soldiers, alive or dead, has long been an emotionally charged issue for Israelis. Many have served in the military as conscripts and see it as sacrosanct.
But they also feel stung by the high price they feel Israel is paying for Shalit. The deal received a green light from Israel’s Supreme Court late on Monday after it rejected petitions from relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks to prevent the mass release.
Palestinians set free included Nasser Yatayma, serving a life sentence for involvement in a suicide bombing that killed 30 people attending a Jewish Passover seder, or traditional meal, in a hotel in central Israel in 2002.
Amana Mona, a Palestinian activist from the West Bank, was also released. She was jailed for life for using an Internet chatroom and promises of sex to lure a 16-year-old Israeli to his death in 2001, when she was 24.
Shalit was abducted in June 2006 by militants who tunneled into Israel from the Gaza Strip and surprised his tank crew, killing two of his comrades. He was whisked back into Gaza and has since been held incommunicado.
Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, tightened its blockade of the small coastal enclave after Shalit’s disappearance.
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