Israel Matzav

Video: Released terrorist Samir al-Kuntar back to weapons training

I'm sure you all remember mass murdering terrorist Samir al-Kuntar, who was traded by the Olmert-Barak-Livni-Yishai government for two black boxes containing the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Well, he's back in weapons training for the first time in 30 years. Let's go to the raw videotape, and then I'll have some details about it.

Eliyahu Shahar's family were perturbed, but not in any way surprised by the images displayed to the world this week of Samir Kuntar engaging in weapons training.

Shahar was killed by a terror cell led by Kuntar into the northern coastal town of Nahariya in 1979. It was during that raid that Kuntar also murdered Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter Einat.

An appeal filed by the Shahar family to prevent Kuntar's release was rejected by the High Court of Justice. He was repatriated to Lebanon along with several other terrorists and the bodies of hundreds of Lebanese fighters in return for the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

"The Kuntar deal was despicable, we said from the onset that it's something we would grow to regret," Yoram Shahar on Tuesday after watching the video of Kuntar training with live gunfire and shells.

"What we saw in this movie is just the tip of the iceberg. Kuntar will carry out a major attack against Israel, which has placed its fate squarely in the hands of murderers," said an irate Shahar.

"I opposed Kuntar's release not because I was against having the captives returned. I was opposed to watching the government throw sand in the eyes of the public to prevent them from seeing the full picture, who it was that they were setting free.

"This is a man who tried to carry out a terror attack against Israel at the age of 14, and was arrested by the Jordanians. It must be understood – once a terrorist, always a terrorist."

Shahar asserts Kuntar was released out of political considerations: "It pains me that Ehud Olmert wanted to create a media spin, and so let him go.

"If people in Israel had the full picture, everyone would have been against his release. You have to understand, this person sat in jail for 30 years and spent that time priming himself for a major attack. He now knows exactly where our weaknesses are," said Shahar.

Eliyahu's second brother, Haim, says the video proves the family was right to appeal the deal. "I want the High Court of Justice, which twice rejected our case, to sit down and watch these images. As someone who has served this country, and who continues to volunteer even today, I am very upset. This is how they (the court) pay us back."

Shahar stressed that his family was not out to avenge his brother's death, only to prevent future attacks. "I wish I could go to Lebanon on my own," says Haim, "I would go destroy him. This is not a vendetta. My brother will not rise from his grave if Kuntar dies.

Haim said that his family members paid a heavy personal price following Eliyahu's death. "My mother died from the grief. Yet after everything we endured, Kuntar was let go and now he's back to his old habits. This ruined us, and he's just continued with his life."

Yoram said he laments the feeling of national helplessness: "We are the strongest nation in the world. I ask Olmert - why don't we get (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh and trade him for (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit, just like they snatched Mustafa Dirani from his bed. That's the kind of country I want to live in," he said.

"We just give and give, and the world's terrorists see this and understand that hey, they really should carry out more kidnappings. We need to understand that we are fighting for our existence, and I feel sorry for the next family in line," added Shahar.

Sorry but there was no link with this article.

I suppose no one is really surprised at this. But for me it puts salt in the wound of the scared and weak government that remains in power in this country.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:45 AM