Israeli general demeans prisoner swap

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By Joshua Mitnick

NAHARIYA, Israel | Retired Brig. Gen. Yosi Tsachor pulled back his shirt to reveal scars across his chest - bullet wounds that almost ended his life nearly three decades ago as he chased terrorist Samir Kantar through this coastal town near the Lebanese border.

Kantar had just dragged an Israeli man and his 4-year-old daughter onto the beach, then fatally shot the father in front of the little girl before smashing her skull and killing her as well.

With Kantar set to be freed Wednesday in a swap of five Lebanese prisoners for two Israeli soldiers who are probably dead, Gen. Tsachor can only cringe.

"Once we pay the same thing for living and dead it endangers soldiers in the future,´´ the retired general told The Washington Times on Tuesday.

Israel´s Cabinet gave a final green light for the prisoner swap with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Israel expects to receive the bodies of reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, whose kidnapping triggered a monthlong war two summers ago.

Kantar will go home to a hero's welcome. Southern Lebanese towns will be bedecked with flags and banners for a convoy of freed prisoners plus the coffins of nearly 200 Lebanese bodies included in the swap.

From Gen. Tsachor's perspective, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has bested Israel once again and his militia grows ever stronger.

"Nasrallah is the smartest person in the Middle East. And we´re strengthening him," the retired general said.

"[Nasrallah] said two years ago that he would get back Kantar and he´s getting him back. He´s said that he wouldn´t give any information on the kidnapped soldiers and he hasn´t. He´s a man of his word. We are strengthening him. We aren´t getting anything."