If it were a "prisoners swap" I'd agree Eitan, but unfortunately it is not. It is for body-parts only now. And that would put Gilad in danger.

If he was hanged, as they should all be, we would not find ourselves in this postion. I don't care to swap a load of stiff bodies.

Let's see, if they would demand the release of Yigal Amir, Eitan, would you also agree to set him free?

This is sick. Haber and weak-willed Israelis just don't get it. Haber's argument is absolutely immoral. Kuntar was allowed to marry a female terrorist while in prison (so much for the conscience of the Prison Authority), so they'll be able to breed another generation of Jew-killers. Worst of all, KUNTAR HAS PROMISED TO RETURN TO ACTIVE TERROR ONCE HE IS RELEASED. What part of that don't you understand? More Israelis will die and be maimed, more little Israeli girls will have their heads smashed with a rock, just like he killed the Haran child, because you lacked the moral fortitude to keep this vicious beast locked in his cage forever. Shame on you and others who think like you!

I propose that we ask Lebanon to give you figs, if your soldiers stay at home. Maybe Kuntar was angry about the figs. what do yo think?

Who will be responsible for the victims killed and injured ant/or kidnaped by the Arab murderers as the consequence of the released Arab prisoners in exchange for Shalit, Regev or Goldwasser? The Shalit family? The Israeli politicians? What will they have to tell to the families of the victims?... Real leaders have plenty of power in the refusal to bargain. A leader should be strong and courageous! More over the problem of kidnaped soldiers at : http://xrl.us/em3de

While all terror related crimes are horrific in nature. The viciousness of the crime Mr.Kuntar committed is what sets him apart from most of the terrorist killers. As horrific as suicide bombings are at least the murderers do not look the victim's right in the eye in this case a 4 year old child, who was just forced to witness the brutal shooting and drowning death of her father,and then while she was literally begging for mercy the murderer then proceeded to beat her to death. I can't imagine a murder much more cruel than this, so I do not agree at all that Israel has released as the writer put it "worse" murderers before.

Name one murderer that was released in one of these swaps that did not kill again! There is not one. They all have returned to kill more Jews. Not one of them has opened an antique shop or concentrated on gardening. Samir Kuntar has promised to kill again if released and going on our past experience I believe him. Why are the lives of these hostages more important than those that Samir Kuntar will take once released? It is a difficult problem but an easy decision. Murderers like Samir Kuntar must remained caged or be executed.

Here in Brazil one may be sentenced to 1000 years, but can't be imprisioned for more than 30. I think that's enough to pay and regret for any crime, don't you?

he is no more or less scum than the hundreds, if not thousands of israeli child murderers, you rascist hypocrite.

Maybe this is the time to reverse the trend of releasing high level scum for nothing but bones. Life for Life. If the soldiers are dead, Kuntar should go back when he is dead and in a pine box. No to ludicrous deals. Just because you have done something before is no reason to go down that same path endlessly. At some point, you have to say 'Dai!'

Get stuffed!

and in the future don't take prisoners.

Shut up Eitan Haber. No one wants to hear your stupid appeasing leftists ideas. All you are trying to do is support your master Olmert. Go to hell!

Well said. One of the problems that the knee-jerk pro-Israeli writers have is that they differentiate between killing Israelis (bad, evil, scum) and killing Palestinians (wow! hurrah! great). You said it very well.

Why has this idea been eliminated as a possibility? As a deterent, it may be our most effective weapon against potential terrorists and murderers. By leaving terrorists over to dwell indefinetly in our jails, we have done nothing to squelch the next evil guy's plans nor have we eliminated the absurd blackmail and all these concomitant circus-like "negotiations" and ridiculous Arab demands for prisoner releases. If we were to reinstitute the death-penalty for these evil people, those that really have or intended to have, Jewish blood on their hands, we may actually see progress in securing the peace we all so desperately desire and need. The death-penalty for terrorist would, in the end, save more lives and thus actually be the most humane solution to the Jewish-Arab conflict. It needs a serious rethink, and without the knee-jerk negative dismissal to which we have been conditioned by the media and Leftist politicians whenever this idea is presented.

Now that Hamas and Mezbollah know Israel will trade the worst murderers alive, for body parts, we can expect to see lots more kidnappings and murder of hostages, dismemberment of the dead body and trading a finger for this prisoner, a toe for this terrorists, etc.

What a truely intellectual response.

took a 4 year old child and bashed it's head in against the wall?

He should be swapped. The suffering of these families is most important. Plus the swap of a child killer for two young men who were clearly loved by their families and who were talented individuals really is not much of an achievement for hezbollah. its more of an embarrassment. its not like they're getting anything worthwhile, just a worm of a human being, and the fact that this is who they want to swap for will show the world what kind of people they are. in future, however, negotiations should not begin without red cross access to prisoners (also to show the world what kind of people these are).

israelis die.

and I thought that Southpark was a suburb of Shiraz. Pity. I am still waiting to see when the ayatollah of southpark puts his feet where his mouth is and goes and lives in his beloved racially exclusive state.

How can you dare compare Israelis with Kuntar? This guy came PURPOSELY to kill children and is now a hero for succedding at it while Israeli soldiers look for adult male and terrorists targets! Palestinians place children in between so that drunk irishman (and other short sighted and opinionated scholars like you) like you can say that israelis are child murderers. You feel like you know something? Like you understand the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? Wake up and educate yourself on the subject. You will not find any Israeli soldiers looking to kill children while the Palestinians have it as a national sport (killing their own children + Israeli children). For each sip of Booze you take you should read one article of this website.

You seem to be fond of comparisons. OK, let's compare. Arabs send their "fighters" to Israel to kill as many Jews -- mostly women and children -- as possible. Israel, on the other hand, instead of bombing or shelling places like Jenin or Gaza sends their soldiers to risk their lives in order to minimize the risk to life of Arab women and children. When Jews are kidnapped by Arabs there is no talk about family visits. It is not even known whether they are alive or dead. Whereas a child killer like Kuntar is permitted to marry and father kids while in Israeli prison. Want more comparisons?

A normal country would've wacked this guy immediately. We do-gooders now forgot the axiom;"He who is merciful to the cruel, will be cruel to the Merciful." We're both, now, thanks to our misguided sense of 'morality. Kill the killers. Let it be known the price of smashing a Jewish childs head against a cliff just went up.... waaaay up.

I'll tell you. Palestinian case - Mohammed al Dura: shot by Palestinians and unjustly blamed on Israel, by lying media. Israeli case - 2 girls + father + policeman murdered in cold blood by Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese infiltrator. Kuntar pursues a college degree from his luxury jail cell. He is unrepentant, yet Israel is seriously considering releasing him, in exchange for, most likely, bones. That doesn't strike me as the way Britain dealt with its worst enemies, in the past or today.