The Bitter Politics of Prisoner Exchanges
For Israelis, the angst over paying a high price for the return of captured soldiers, alive or dead
Reader Comments
Terrorists are not entitled to the protected status of POWs.
Israel’s enemies, using guerilla organizations such as the terrorist group Hizbullah and Hamas operates outside the legal framework of the laws of war – routinely committing war crimes such as indiscriminate attacks (the deliberate targeting of civilians as such) and perfidy (disguising combatants as protected individuals such as civilians). The organizations’ fighters are unlawful combatants who are not entitled to the protected status of POWs, and are subject to prosecution as war criminals. More at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/07/bargaining-for-living-and-dead.html
Certain principles that need to be applied.
While negotiating with terrorists certain principles that need to be applied are almost self-evident: Whatever deal is to be struck, it should be done immediately after the kidnapping. Of course the price to be paid for the return of the living is not to be the same as the price for the dead. Last but not least : We should should be fully aware of the Israelis who are being put at risk in the future as a result of giving in to the demands of the terrorists. More at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/07/bargaining-for-living-and-dead.html
