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Last update - 18:27 16/07/2008
Prisoner swap
Abbas congratulates Kuntar's family for killer's release
By News Agencies
Tags: Samir Kuntar, Hezbollah 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday congratulated the family of notorious Lebanese terrorist Samir Kuntar , who was freed on Wednesday with four Hezbollah guerillas as part of a prisoner exchange with Israel.

Abbas welcomed the swap between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group, and in a statement congratulated the families of the "liberated prisoners," issued during a visit to Malta.

Kuntar has been imprisoned in Israel since 1979. He was convicted of one of the grisliest attacks in Israeli history - killing three people including, a man in front of his 4-year-old daughter, and then killing the girl herself by crushing her skull.
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In Gaza, meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday hailed Kuntar as "a great hero" and said Israel's decision to release him and four Hezbollah fighters had undermined Israel's policy of not freeing "prisoners with blood on their hands."

Haniyeh also branded the exchange of prisoners as "a victory" for Hezbollah and armed resistance against Israel.

"The Israelis should pay the price for the release of Gilad Shalit," Haniya said in a statement in central Gaza, referring to the Israel Defense Forces soldier kidnapped by Gaza militants in June, 2006 cross-border raid.

"It is hard to see thousands of prisoners still held in Israeli jails," He added.

People celebrated in the streets of the Hamas-controlled coastal territory, and handed out sweets in support of Hezbollah.

"Today is a great victory for the resistance movements and to Hezbollah, said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "It shows that the only successful way to free the prisoners is by kidnapping soldiers."



Related articles:
  • Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture
  • ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, prisoner swap is Hezbollah victory
  • Gerhard Conrad - the 'fair' middleman overseeing the swap
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      1.   Kuntar`s Release, Abbas`s Congrats & Israel`s Response 18:27  |  Brad 16/07/08
      2.   Abbas was Kuntar`s Role Model 18:28  |  Straight Talk 16/07/08
      3.   Abbas is the guy Olmert is hugging and patting on the shoulders 18:31  |  Sam 16/07/08
      4.   Politics Won Over Security for the Israeli Govt 18:37  |  Me 16/07/08
      5.   Omlert finally can see the result of his jobs Abbas congratulates 18:39  |  Daniel 16/07/08
      6.   Abbas 18:40  |  Sol 16/07/08
      7.   Expand Jewish Settlement Throughout the Land of Israel 18:42  |  Steve 16/07/08
      8.   The Arabs are waiting in the wings to take over Israel 18:43  |  Natasha 16/07/08
      9.   Kuntar 18:56  |  Appalled 16/07/08
      10.   Israeli leaders are sick... 19:02  |  AJ 16/07/08
      11.   Congrats to Olmert, Barak & Livni - GREAT JOB GUYS 19:02  |  Pervert 16/07/08
      12.   swap 19:04  |  tony 16/07/08
      13.   donkey head olmert and cabinet 19:04  |  ouy kcuf 16/07/08
      14.   Someone please record Abbas`s quote for future reminders... 19:05  |  Richard S 16/07/08
      15.   This is the reason why Israel`s building a separation fence 19:07  |  Richard S 16/07/08
      16.   How low can the Govt go? 20:18  |  4:20 16/07/08
      17.   Abbas congrats Kuntar 20:23  |  Marshall Sindelman 16/07/08
      18.   Abbas is a serpent 20:29  |  Connie 16/07/08
      19.   Abu Mazen only planned Maalot masacre 20:29  |  Ilan 16/07/08
      20.   Sweets & bludgeoned children 20:30  |  The Judge 16/07/08
      21.   To Appalled 20:34  |  The Judge 16/07/08
      22.   FAIR EXCHANGE 20:36  |  X-MILITARY 16/07/08
      23.   so sad for this world 20:36  |  beto 16/07/08
      24.   ABBAS = ARAFAT = HUSSEIN 20:41  |  GAELMIC 16/07/08
      25.   Abbas the Lowlife 20:42  |  George Kaplan 16/07/08
      26.   I`M PRO-PALESTINIAN BUT KUNTAR IS NO HERO 20:44  |  JH 16/07/08
      27.   Let`s be a bit realistic 20:47  |  Arnie 16/07/08
      28.   Kaddish for our troops 20:49  |  BIG SUR 16/07/08
      29.   Apalling stuff 20:53  |  ScotGuy 16/07/08
      30.   Abbas took pride in the fact that he was the first terrorist ... 20:54  |  Jean Van Daem 16/07/08
      31.   Way to go Olmert 20:55  |  Leor 16/07/08
      32.   Israelis - If You Don`t Wise Up Fast, You Will Lose Your Country 21:01  |  Tod Zuckerman 16/07/08
      33.   Abbas congratulates 21:08  |  Ralph 16/07/08
      34.   @JH 21:10  |  Ralph 16/07/08
      35.   To Appaled 21:15  |  Reina 16/07/08
      36.   #23 21:18  |  Reina 16/07/08
      37.   Partner for Peace? 21:23  |  fiona 16/07/08
      38.   Kuntar again 21:28  |  David Zion 16/07/08
      39.   Abbas-Kuntar 21:30  |  Chris 16/07/08
      40.   Demonstrations 21:31  |  Miche Norman 16/07/08
      41.   Kuntar just another terrorist, just like any Hamas member 21:34  |  Voice of Reason 16/07/08
      42.   This is a Hezbollah Victory 21:39  |  Ron 16/07/08
      43.   And what did you expect from abbas? 21:47  |  Arie 16/07/08
      44.   Miche Norman 21:49  |  Fred 16/07/08
      45.   I Wouldn`t Wanna Be The Iranian at The Intersection When The 22:06  |  Joseph.E 16/07/08
      46.   Who killed the most civilians during the last Lebanon war? 22:10  |  Natallie Durson 16/07/08
      47.   For Steve # 7 22:15  |  Clickfool 16/07/08
      48.   #6 Sol: Only selfserving bastard like Olmert will keep on embrac 22:17  |  Haham Me Bat yam 16/07/08
      49.   Uncle Toms just aren`t what they used to be 22:17  |  Clickfool 16/07/08
      50.   Abbas, you are a great humanitarian 22:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/07/08
      51.   For Natallie Durson # 41 22:27  |  Clickfool 16/07/08
      52.   Clickfool (#47) Generous to whom, well... 23:02  |  Gil 16/07/08
      53.   Clickfool (#47) Generous to whom, well... 23:02  |  Gil 16/07/08
      54.   MAKE NO PRISONERS ANY MORE 23:05  |  DISRAELI 16/07/08
      55.   Natallie Durson (#46) Who killed the most civilians 23:13  |  Gil 16/07/08
      56.   For those who feel sympathy with the Israelis and not with the Ar 23:23  |  getalife 16/07/08
      57.   Abbas what were you demonstrating with your congrats? 23:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/07/08
      58.   To Durson 46 23:47  |  Alex 16/07/08
      59.   kuntar your time will come 23:52  |  jacques 16/07/08
      60.   @54 Margie, there`s a fifth possibility 23:55  |  Mark B. 16/07/08
      61.   Durson`s Quiz Answered 00:02  |  Miransky 17/07/08
      62.   Qantar 00:06  |  M Salmond 17/07/08
      63.   Should have been exchange of dead, not prisoners 00:07  |  Jeff C. 17/07/08
      64.   hey bragging Connie, you think a Goyim could do anything usefull? 00:22  |  Mark B. 17/07/08
      65.   Jews of Israel, speak up against Olmert&Co dishonest nothing 00:25  |  AlexK 17/07/08
      66.   #60 Mark B 00:40  |  Marc 17/07/08
      67.   Mark B. of Amsterdam, take it easy on Connie! 00:41  |  Absolute Israel 17/07/08
      68.   Civilization gap 00:44  |  dahu 17/07/08
      69.   What has abbas gotten? Expansion of settlements..that`s it 00:46  |  Ghandi 17/07/08
      70.   Clickfool (#47) Generous to whom, well 00:56  |  Gil 17/07/08
      71.   getalife #53 01:01  |  Marc