Get out of jail free
Yahoo News! has a headline, "900 Palestinian Prisoners to Gain Freedom". "To gain freedom?" How's that going to happen? Actually Israel agreed to grant them their freedom. But Israel's role in this is minimized. Alas this is a typical treatment of this "confidence building measure."
Consider a recent observation of Morton Klein:
It is also noteworthy that Palestinian Arab leaders have dismissed this prisoner release as "cosmetic." They clearly don't view this as a "goodwill gesture" ..."
And the
Jewish Virtual Library notes:
Even a limited prisoner release represents a risk that Israel is taking in the interest of peace. In the past, released prisoners have returned to terrorism and committed new crimes against Israelis. It will be a major test of the PA's commitment to peace, and its authority, to insure that people freed by Israel do not resort to more violence.
By releasing prisoners Israel is taking a risk. (I know that there have been cases where prisoners released by Israel have returned to terror. I haven't been able to find specific examples on the internet.) Israel is also doing something that isn't required of it according to the terms of the peace treaties. (Yes Oslo mentioned prisoner releases but it was meant for those involved in political activity.) Prisoner releases have morphed from a confidence building measure to a requirement that isn't even appreciated.
The media doesn't appreciate it. And neither to the Palestinians, though they demand this Israel to carry out this voluntary measure before they will consider carrying out their
obligations.
Crossposted on
Israpundit and
Soccer Dad.
Posted by SoccerDad at February 4, 2005 10:21 AM
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