Intimidation is a poor and counterproductive means to put a wedge between the Lebanese people and Hezbolla. Hezbolla is now highly popular among the entire population, and the return of Kuntar signifies a great victory to Nasralla, who promised to bring him back and did it.
There is another message that may work much better: a message of reconcilliation and prospect of peace. If the Shaba farms are returned to the Lebanese government (with Syrian consent), there is nothing that prevents Israel and Lebanon to sign a peace treaty.
Let Hezbolla be the winner for the Lebanese (who cares!?) - our government did what was moral and right for us - so that the Lebanese can deal with us out of pride and not humilliation. Humilliation does not work with Arabs or most people. We were able to talk peace with Egyptians only after they attained a small but significant victory by crossing the Suez Canal into Sinai. Let Kuntar be the Suez Canal crossing of the Lebanese. |
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