Incredible...

Submitted by Janice Sentara (Canada), Feb 3, 2004 at 13:20

Other disadvantages to the prisoner release deal --

1) it gives legitimacy to the anti-Israel crowd who claims that these prisoners are not "terrorists" but "political prisoners." Just as at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo -- there are claims made by Muslim fanatics that those held at Guantanamo are not "terrorists" -- just "political prisoners," and that all the "fear-mongering" in the U.S. and Israel about alleged "terrorists" is not real -- it's just U.S./Israel "propaganda" based on "Islamophobia."

2) It makes people very skeptical about Israel's commitment to fighting terrorism. May I just also add here that I find it incredible, absolutely remarkable, that Israel allows leaders of all known terrorist groups residing in the West Bank/Gaza to fly off to places such as Cairo, Egypt -- and convene a meeting -- complete with press coverage. I mean, what's going on here? I cannot imagine a similar scenario occurring, say, in Iraq. Imagine, several different insurgency groups in Iraq tell reporters that they'll be sending their leaders off to convene a meeting in Damascus, Syria. Now does any sane person believe the Americans would allow such a meeting to transpire? Yet, if you're a terrorist leader living in the West Bank or Gaza -- hey, no problem. You'll be wined and dined in Cairo.

So, does Israel really believe these are "terrorists" or just badly misunderstood political "activists" (who also just happen not to mind too terribly much about murdering Jewish civilians.)

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".