Article

2004-11-15 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Israel working on three-way release deal

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Posted by Steve 2004-11-15 12:48:06 PM|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 1. Mo Dahlan, who supports Abu Mazen as Fatah candidate, says today that Bargouti does too, and will NOT run himself. One wonders how Dahlan can speak for Bargouti, but Dahlan claims to be a close friend of Bargouti. Probably BS, but we will see.
2. There have been rumors from time to time that Israel had imprisoned Bargouti with the deliberate purpose of increasing his "street cred" among pals, seeing him as more pragmatic than the Pal "old guard". This would be quite a riff on that theme, if they were releasing him to play his role, and trying to get Azzam and Pollard into the bargain!!!
3. This is a delicate time for Bush with the CIA, etc - i cant see Bush ruffling things further by releasing Pollard - not to get Bargouti.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-11-15 1:10:38 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:10:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Pollard should have been shot.

Posted by anonymous2u 2004-11-15 1:18:59 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:18:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 So should Bargouti.

Posted by Seafarious 2004-11-15 1:29:02 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:29:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 This deal makes no sense for the US or Egypt. Why should they give a damn about this guy? Man 'A' offers Man 'B' $5, but only if Man 'C' and Man 'D' each give him, Man 'A', $10.

Posted by Anonymoose 2004-11-15 1:43:51 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:43:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm afraid this is a non-starter. Pollard isn't going to be released -- too politically sensitive.

If he were held in an arab country, things would be different. But the US doesn't bargain over such highly visible goings-on. The political backlash, and the "Jews-control-the-government" backlash would be enormous.

Posted by PlanetDan 2004-11-15 1:44:47 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:44:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 GWB has been as good an ally to Israel as they could have expected. The least they could do in return is to permanently drop the Pollard matter. Pollard is on ice, and should stay that way until he croaks.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-11-15 1:44:56 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:44:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 to BAR - there is a substantial constituency in Israel that believes that Pollard was shafted, and got an unreasonable sentence, and moreover, that its hypocritical to ask Israel to release those who have committed asks of violence to "turn over a new leaf" while Pollard is not given the same chance. His release could assuage Israelis who would otherwise object to the release of someone like Bargouti. As for why the US and Egypt would want to see Bargouti released, it would be to show how helpful they are to the Pals - for Egypt thats valuable domestically and in its attempt to lead the arab world, and to have influence over the Pals. For the US thats helpful in the GWOT and for helping Blair, etc, etc.

I agree however that these benefits do not offset the considerable costs, and it wont happen.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-11-15 1:52:40 PM|| 2004-11-15 1:52:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I think Israel should trade down for a second-tier terrorist, or possibly a Terrorist To Be Named Later. With the salary cap constraints the Israelis are currently up against, they should keep Bargouti, and may have to forgo a marque scumbag like Pollard.

Posted by reality check 2004-11-15 2:14:05 PM|| 2004-11-15 2:14:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 How about Ron Arad in lieu of Pollard?

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-15 3:14:27 PM|| 2004-11-15 3:14:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 ..that its hypocritical to ask Israel to release those who have committed asks of violence to "turn over a new leaf" while Pollard is not given the same chance.

All the more reason for us to stay out of their business. All of the pressuring done by U.S. officials for concessions of one kind or another can't be expected to be a one-way street, and it would be a Good Thing if GWB and his staff understand that.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-11-15 4:46:26 PM|| 2004-11-15 4:46:26 PM|| Front Page Top

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