What Is This World Coming To?

Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and the alleged moderate who is the ‘last, best hope for peace’ between Israel and the Palestinians offered his congratulations to the family of child murderer Samir Kuntar on his release from an Israeli prison.

Kuntar was among those traded for kidnapped Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Kuntar had been in Israeli custody for thirty years after being convicted of murdering a four year old Jewish girl by crushing her head with a rifle butt.

Despite the grisly nature of his crimes, Kuntar was not only alive, but in good health.

Regev and Goldwasser, who were guilty of nothing, were believed to be hostages of Hezbollah for two years. Despite their innocence, all Israel got back was their bodies.

In Gaza,Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday hailed Kuntar as “a great hero” and said Israel’s decision to release him and four Hezbollah fighters undermined Israel’s policy of not freeing “prisoners with blood on their hands.” He called the deal “a victory” for Hezbollah.

“The Israelis should pay the price for the release of Gilad Shalit,” Haniya said. “It is hard to see thousands of prisoners still held in Israeli jails,” he added. (My sympathy for their plight is tempered by the image of the coffins containing Hezbollah’s ‘prisoners’.)

People celebrated in the streets of Gaza, and handed out sweets in support of Hezbollah.

“Today is a great victory for the resistance movements and to Hezbollah, said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. “It shows that the only successful way to free the prisoners is by kidnapping soldiers.”

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in an official ceremony addressed as ‘freed heroes’ the five Lebanese prisoners freed by Israel. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and members of major political factions, including Hezbollah’s rivals, also welcomed them on a red carpet with an honor guard.

President Shimon Peres, who pardoned Kuntar but said he did not “forget or forgive what he did”, compared the solemn behavior of Israelis, mourning the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers with what he called Lebanese “dancing and drumming.”

“I watch and hear what is happening on both sides of the barricade. In Lebanon there are victory celebrations,” Peres said in a special address on the return of the bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

“The heads of states, heads of Hezbollah are dancing and drumming before welcoming Kuntar - the murderer who with his rifle’s butt smashed the skull of Einat, of blessed memory, who was four years old, and who shot her father in cold blood. In Israel, the people are crying.”

A former cellmate of Samir Kuntar, Jaber Weshah, who is, ironically enough, now deputy director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, said: “Today is a true day of joy for all Palestinians and all freedom lovers across the world.”

Let’s see. Hezbollah ‘freedom fighters’ kidnapped two Israelis from inside Israel, secretly murdered them and then negotiated for their ‘release’ knowing they were already dead. Less than two hours before the coffins were exchanged, Eldad’s mother still held out hope he was alive. Freedom fighters?

Hamas is at this moment still holding hostage a young Israeli corporal named Gilad Shalit. He’s been held for two years, assuming he is still alive. But Hamas will not confirm whether he is alive or dead, preferring to torture his family as well.

(Human rights? There are humans among the Palestinians? Who knew?)