Israel Contemplates Another Prisoner Release

What exactly does Israel get from its prisoner releases? Hizbullah got plenty of photo opportunities and the ability to stage mass rallies in Lebanon saluting a child murderer and unabashed terrorist in Samir Kuntar plus another bunch of terrorists - alive and dead in exchange for the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Now, Israel is looking to release another 200 Palestinian terrorists. What is Israel getting in return? Good faith measures by the Palestinians? Hardly. There's nothing to be gained from these prisoner releases.

The Palestinians are no less dedicated to Israel's destruction today than they were yesterday. Fatah continues to look the other way as its members plot attacks. Hamas has no intention of calling off its war with Israel. Both are using this time to regroup and rearm. Hamas does so via the smuggling tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, while Fatah gets its weapons from Israel and the West, because the diplomats continue to operate under the mistaken belief that Fatah can be relied upon to deliver peace.

Foreign Minister Livni says that releasing these prisoners shows that pragmatic groups can benefit from diplomacy. Right. It just means that the Palestinians can outlast the Israelis. Netanyahu and others put it best:

Netanyahu said that "instead of adopting a resolute stance against terror, the Kadima government continues to release hundreds of prisoners in return for nothing." He said the Likud would "replace weakness with an uncompromising aggressive policy towards terrorism."

Yishai warned that the cabinet's decision jeopardized the chances of freeing captive IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit.

Israel Beitenu MK Israel Hasson said that "the government insists on 'fixing' the damage it causes by inflicting significantly more damage," adding that "a government that would not have given in to Hizbullah and Hamas demands in the past, would not have to give in to Fatah today, by releasing prisoners in return for nothing."

Indeed, each prisoner release results in more demands for prisoner releases, the incentive to take more Israelis hostage to be used as pawns for prisoner releases, and further undermines Israel's national security.