If they're ready to renounce terrorism, why was this man given a hero's welcome?
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — After almost three decades behind bars for a deadly bombing, the oldest and longest-held Palestinian prisoner in Israel was freed today and returned triumphantly to the West Bank to reunite with his wife and family.
White-haired Ahmad Jubarah, 68, who was imprisoned for his role in a 1975 Jerusalem bomb attack that killed 13 people and wounded 70 others, hugged a weeping daughter born after he was captured.
A cheering crowd hoisted Jubarah up on their shoulders, and Jubarah was driven to a hotel to relax before meeting with Arafat, where he clasped hands with the veteran Palestinian leader as photographers took their picture.
This was one of the "good will gestures" that Israel has offered to ease the so-called path to peace. The families of some of the victims don't quite see it that way. Shlomo Bezem in the brother of Yitzhak Bezem, who was killed in the explosion.
Bezem is steadfast. "His release isn't worth it even if it brings peace."
"Peace should come on peaceful terms and murderers should stay in prison or die. We have to separate the issues of murder and peace," he said.
Bezem warned of a greater risk inherently involved in releasing a murderer. "If this decision is made by the Israeli government, then they are licensing the Palestinian terrorist mechanism and retrospectively giving a green light for the murder of Jews," Bezem said.
Abu Sukkar's release "has nothing to do with peace or any political struggle he should have died years ago or at least sat in prison for the rest of his life," he said.
I couldn't agree more.
