Sharon Endangers Israelis Again

Regarding the 400 Arab prisoners Israel released today, Israel National News reports that 170 have perpetrated shootings, bombings, and other violent crimes.

This makes 900 prisoners released this year, preceded by over a thousand releases since Ariel Sharon's election in 2001. Only three members of Sharon's 21-member cabinet voted against the latest release: Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Health Minister Dan Naveh, and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz.

In addition, a May 31 headline in Ha'aretz read, "PM orders release of prisoners who killed Israelis," with this lead sentence, "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has instructed Justice Minister Tzipi Livni to prepare for the release of veteran Palestinian prisoners who have 'blood on their hands.'"

For an idea of what this means for Israeli security, consider Waseem Akab Khalil Mantzur and Atzam Mantzur.

Released in 2003 after imprisonment for shooting attacks, in February the IDF arrested Waseem Akab Khalil Mantzur for involvement in attacks including an attempted massacre of Jews in Bracha near Nablus. Released in January 2004, on February 16 the IDF killed Atzam Mantzur and fellow terrorist Mahyub Yusef Kiny while planting a bomb in Bracha.

Islamic Jihad member Hassan Abu Armana was among those released in February. He remarked, “There will be no peace, no security, no stability without the release of all prisoners.”

Hamas leader Hassan Yousef likewise declared to a crowd, “There will be no peace as long as there is a single prisoner in Israeli jails.”

Real confidence-inspiring sentiments there.

One need not be a Sun Tzu or Karl von Clausewitz to know increasing an enemy's ranks is a bad idea. Ariel Sharon may have been an eminent general, but he has severely damaged Israelis' safety.