Official: Israel OKs Hezbollah prisoner deal

So they do negotiate with terrorists after all?

Hmmmmm.....

There is no advantage. Where did advantages and disadvantages come into this. This are just the facts. Israel occupies the Golan Heights. They hold the keys to Palestinian advancement. I know this.

Who is saying that Israel does no wrong? I agree that it is a disadvantage for Israel to continue holding these various lands claimed by various factions of the same Arab nationalist movement. Whether it be Gaza or Golan, the situation is what it is. And prisoner swaps are the first steps towards peace, a mission as you say that Rabin took seriously while acting at best condradictory and at worst hypocritically.

But Rabin is dead. This is a whole new generational conflict, born of the previous. Now I don't really follow your line of thinking mjsmith11 but i get your frustration. I feel it too. But it has to start somewhere and move along. Land exchange comes next. Prisoner swaps come first.

What advantage does it offer by keeping Golan Heights? What advantage does it offer to Israel to occupy Palestine and brutally oppress the Palestinian people? Yitzhak Rabin knew thr advantages of peace far outweigh the current turmoil. He was a remarkable military officer who was greatly responsible for much of the land grab.

So you both sides should just keep their imprisoned enemy combatants? Does returning land Israel occupies, which I assume you are referring to the Golan Heights and i guess the de-facto occupation of the West Bank -- does returning land gained in an openly defended war come before a prisoner swap?

I mean, I admit. Hezbollah is not a non-violent entity. They are an Iranian via-Syrian-trafficked and funded political party with an extremely effective militant faction. They also provide a serious service to the poor, recently immigrated Shia of Souther Lebanon. They are a social movement. With mid-range missile capability. And a defiant Anti-Western strain. But they are moving in the right direction away from violence and towards talks on serious issues. Prisoner swaps are always the first step to such serious talks.

Don't be so hasty mjsmith11 in judging the first step of a certain specific process (and I say it like that because I respect historical precedent and this doesn't always lead to better talks and better relations). The confidence building in these hostile relations herald at the least a good thing, at the most a new era.

Good point JudahEvan. How is bombing Lebanon turning Hezbollah into a non-violent political entity. Trading for soldiers, historically proven, will only lead to more kidnapped soldiers. I have a great idea - Israel should return all of the land it occupies.

One sided analysis much??

Turning Hezbollah into a peaceful, non-violent political entity within Lebanon, and subsequently the Middle East as a whole, should be the goals, if only whispered, of the Israeli government. This process is already taking serious form. Sporadic fighting in Tripoli and Tyre will not lay destruction to the compromise made in Doha about a month ago, nor will it stop the progress of Hezbollah that has gradually transformed the Shia movement in southern Lebanon from a fringe militant element to a major political player.

The dangers of the Iranian backed non-state actor that supports domestic and international terrorism can not be understated. And if your goals are the eradication of this group and its followers, than not only are you gravely misguided and historically ignorant, but you are also advocating a dangerous military ideology that is just that -- ideology. Practicality and the Zeitgeist matter not to a person pursuing hard lines and hot action, only pride and competition take the rhetorical stage.

Trading soldiers, no matter how lopsided the deal, is better than trading RPG fire.

Making a big mistake. Of course the way Israel handled this entire kidnapped solldier issue was a disaster. I guess dealing with a terrorist entity is better than bombing Lebanon. Bombing and waging war against Lebabnon also strengthened Hezbollah. Now they are helping out Hezbollah by giving in to their demands.

Sounds great.

thanks world peace for sharing this.. peace & Love to all

Shalom, Salaam, Peace