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Last update - 00:47 18/07/2008
Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Hezbollah, Samir Kuntar 

Five militants who were freed Wednesday as part of a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah, on Thursday prayed at a slain Hezbollah military commander's grave, pledging to follow in his footsteps and continue fighting Israel.

Wearing military fatigues, the five men walked down a red carpet laid out for them outside Imad Mughniyeh's burial spot at a cemetery south of Beirut.

They laid wreaths and gave a military salute as supporters showered them with rice.
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Mughniyeh, the second in command of the Lebanon-based guerilla organization Hezbollah, has been accused of masterminding terrorist bombings in the 1980s and 1990s. He was killed in a car bomb in neighboring Syria in February.

Hezbollah and its supporters regard him as a hero of almost mythical stature. The militant group dubbed Wednesday's prisoner exchange Radwan in reference to Mughniyeh's nom de guerre, Hajj Radwan.

"We swear by God to continue on your same path and not to retreat until we achieve the same stature that God bestowed on you," said Samir Kuntar, who had been the longest-held Lebanese prisoner in Israel until his release on Wednesday. Kuntar was convicted of murdering three Israelis in a 1979 terror attack in Nahariya.

Kuntar referred to Mughniyeh's martyrdom, saying "this is our great wish. We envy you and we will achieve it," God willing.

Kuntar and four Hezbollah guerrillas were freed in exchange for the bodies of two Israel Defense Forces reservists captured by Hezbollah in July 2006 in a cross-border raid that sparked the Second Lebanon War.

The exchange was mediated over the course of 18 months by a United Nations-appointed German official.

Later in the day, hundreds of people welcomed Kuntar in his hometown of Abey, a mountain hamlet 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Beirut.

"This time yesterday I was in the hands of the enemy. But at this moment, I am yearning more than before to confront them," Kuntar said. "Hezbollah's weapons are a red line that no one should be allowed to cross," he told reporters.

Israel also returned to Lebanon the bodies of nearly 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters who were killed fighting Israel over the past three decades.

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      1.   HE LEARNED, AFTER ALL 20:19  |  indrajaya 17/07/08
      2.   Didnt his IL lawyer say that he just wanted to rest and not fight 20:26  |  Alan SA 17/07/08
      3.   I honestly think Cuntar was safer in Israeli Jail than in Beirut 20:27  |  Alan SA 17/07/08
      4.   I can`t believe it!! 20:33  |  Dan 17/07/08
      5.   Kuntar the known Baby Killer 20:47  |  Moshe 17/07/08
      6.   And haaretz still refuses to use the "T" word 20:51  |  Arie 17/07/08
      7.   Lebanese Prisoners 20:53  |  Recep 17/07/08
      8.   Murderers 21:07  |  Nina 17/07/08
      9.   Kuntar 21:13  |  Gregor 17/07/08
      10.   Something that comes to mind 21:15  |  Gilles 17/07/08
      11.   Kuntar better grow eyes in back of his head 21:17  |  Sherman 17/07/08
      12.   Alan SA # 3 21:20  |  Bill H. 17/07/08
      13.   Criminal minds vow to continue `struggle` 21:22  |  Ulf 17/07/08
      14.   to # 1 Indrajaya 21:30  |  Roy 17/07/08
      15.   you can have him back 21:32  |  toufic 17/07/08
      16.   Israelis - You Need to Read Israel Harel 21:37  |  Tod Zuckerman 17/07/08
      17.   To Arie 21:45  |  Me 17/07/08
      18.   to indrajaya 21:45  |  moshe 17/07/08
      19.   #1 Absolutely, Indonesians systematically murdered thousands... 21:49  |  Ulf 17/07/08
      20.   Make our day, O` Holy Shaheed 21:50  |  Kenny 17/07/08
      21.   to indrajaya 21:53  |  moshe 17/07/08
      22.   1 21:55  |  Pavel 17/07/08
      23.   the families of these 5 terrorists 21:59  |  vik 17/07/08
      24.   Give him the martyrdom he seeks 22:00  |  McQueen 17/07/08
      25.   #1 EVIDENTLY YOU WILL NEVER LEARN 22:01  |  McQueen 17/07/08
      26.   INDY (#1), THINK TO PROTECT YOUR GLORIOUS BROTHERS... 22:03  |  MOSHEH 17/07/08
      27.   Kuntar - Dead man walking 22:07  |  David 17/07/08
      28.   Amen to that! 22:12  |  mark hammond 17/07/08
      29.   Why wait 22:16  |  Gene Warech 17/07/08
      30.   The DIFFERENCE between Arab and Jewish Prisoners. 22:18  |  justiceforall 17/07/08
      31.   kuntar, et al 22:23  |  Harry 17/07/08
      32.   rather odd 22:38  |  alex 17/07/08
      33.   Kuntar is a loser and he is scared to hell at this time 22:45  |  Rafa 17/07/08
      34.   Kuntar 22:56  |  James 17/07/08
      35.   But then - 23:02  |  giles k 17/07/08
      36.   vik - Targetting families? 23:18  |  Natallie Durson 17/07/08
      37.   Indrajaya 23:26  |  Frank 17/07/08
      38.   still waiting? 23:27  |  farid 17/07/08
      39.   Indrajaya # 1 23:43  |  Bill H. 17/07/08
      40.   Brave Words By Kuntar For Someone 23:45  |  Brad 17/07/08
      41.   to #1, indrejera in denial 23:46  |  leo 17/07/08
      42.   continue......what??? 23:46  |  ljf 17/07/08
      43.   The muslim world must be proud 23:49  |  Fed up 17/07/08
      44.   Kuntar`s Gifts 23:54  |  Art 17/07/08
      45.   #5"Kuntar is the known Baby killer" 23:57  |  Gadi 17/07/08
      46.   Moshe #5 00:00  |  mariapalestina 18/07/08
      47.   Reply to talkback 1 00:13  |  jackie 18/07/08
      48.   to #16, Zuckerman 00:16  |  Drew 18/07/08
      49.   Kontar 00:22  |  no need 18/07/08
      50.   5 living gurrillas for 2 dead soldiers 00:26  |  topanga 18/07/08
      51.   murderers 00:31  |  neil 18/07/08
      52.   We Stand with Israel 00:37  |  indiansoldier 18/07/08
      53.   Aonther rat joins the Rats Club in Beirut! 00:49  |  Maurice 18/07/08
      54.   #1 - Indrajaya 00:57  |  Maurice 18/07/08
      55.   Time to lets the dogs loose. 01:02  |  Scott S. 18/07/08
      56.   #1 01:02  |  Rab Burns 18/07/08
      57.   Kuntar the krazy 01:22  |  sabra 18/07/08
      58.   Indrajaya - Indonesia 01:49  |  Jabotinsky 18/07/08
      59.   #38 - Regarding the rats pack... 01:54  |  Ray 18/07/08
      60.   Let Kuntar Live 01:57  |  utagawa 18/07/08
      61.   alan sa 3 02:00  |  potobac 18/07/08
      62.   recep 02:07  |  potobac 18/07/08
      63.   Condolence 02:07  |  Pepe 18/07/08
      64.   to #1 indrajera the coward 02:14  |  leo 18/07/08
      65.   indrajaya, did our hostages had a chance to stay in jail? 02:16  |  Dan 18/07/08
      66.   if he knows whats good for him 02:16  |  rl 18/07/08
      67.   indrajaya, he learned waht? 02:22  |  Dan 18/07/08
      68.   Democracy in Israel/Haaretz. 02:36  |  Maureen Ann 18/07/08
      69.   Jackie, excellent post 02:44  |  Dan 18/07/08
      70.   Tell me who are your heroes and I`ll tell you who you are 02:44  |  Dan 18/07/08
      71.   Grant This Piece Of Garbage His Last Wish 02:46  |