The Israeli government must finalize a prisoner swap with Hizbullah despite the heavy price of such deal, the fathers of soldiers returned to Israel in the previous such swap told Ynet Friday.
The families of abducted soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev must "hang in there during the tough and nerve-wrecking moments ahead," said Haim Avraham, whose son Benny was kidnapped by Hizbullah in 2000. His body was returned to Israel four years ago in the framework of a swap with Hizbullah.
Prisoner Swap
Poll: 61% of Israelis in favor of releasing Kuntar / Ynet
On eve of potential prisoner swap between Israel and Hizbullah, public expresses support for deal even in return for bodies of kidnapped soldiers Goldwasser and Regev. Defense Minister Barak to meet with captives' families Friday
Addressing reports that another swap, this time for Goldwasser and Regev, is close to completion, Avraham said their relatives can do no more than hope for the best.
"I would tell the families that at the end of the day it doesn't depend on them," Avraham said. The State will ultimately decided whether it wants the boys back here, or whether it wishes to convey the message that we do not stand by them. At the end of the day, in my view the State will decide to bring them back, and this deal will be completed."
Avraham added: "In the past the State was also forced to release terrorists with blood on their hands…so what's the difference with Kuntar? He's a despicable murder and they were despicable murderers. It is better to have our sons here, regardless in which condition, rather than to continue treating and feeding Kuntar here and letting him write letters to his family."
'Moral debt to soldiers'
Yaakov Avitan, whose son Adi was also abducted in 2000 along with Benny Avraham and Omar Souad, said the current prisoner swap should be advanced rapidly: "The wait could cost dearly and at the end we'll have nobody to talk to."
"There is no doubt that the State is obligated to bring the abducted soldiers back home," he said. "They were sent on operational duty by the State of Israel, and it must do everything to bring them back. There are some values that cannot be ignored. The State has a moral debt to its soldiers."
"They can hold as many discussions as they want, but the result must be the boys' return home, regardless of their condition," Avitan said. "If they're alive then there's no question about it, and if heaven forbid they're not alive, they cannot speak for themselves, but there are others who can cry out."
RSS
