Israel Set to Release Yet Another Convicted Murderer……?

Ever since the arrest and conviction of Palestinian terrorist, Marwan Barghouti by an Israeli court of justice, I have held the view that Israel would one day release him. Since the exchange of the blood thirsty terrorist Samir Kuntar last week for the corpses of two Israeli soldiers, my suspicions that the Palestinian architect for murder, Marwan Barghouti will also soon be released have been underlined.

It could very well soon happen. My disgust over it all is immense.

YNET: “An Egyptian source has told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that as part of a deal securing the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel is willing to free Marwan Barghouti, the former Fatah Secretary-General in the West Bank who was sentenced to five life imprisonments, but will not release Popular Front Secretary-General Ahmad Saadat, who was involved in the murder of former Minister Rehavam Ze’evi. “Barghouti is on the list of 70 prisoners Israeli has agreed to release,” the source said.”

If the report is true -especially when viewed under the rubric of the last week’s events- then convicted murderer, Marwan Barghouti will be soon walking out of prison as his Druse counterpart did a week ago. What kind of message does this send to the average Palestinian terrorist? To borrow a line from a Bob Dylan tune:

“Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king”.

The Israelis rightfully complain about the revolving doors installed in the jails of the Palestinian Authority, but what is one to say about Israel’s release of terrorists, which amounts to much of the same thing? Anyways, Israel is of course free to make its own policy concerning how it deals with its prisoners, because when the policy comes back to haunt them, Israel’s own decision makers will bear the brunt of the blame. More here. *L* KGS

Bob Dylan’s song “Jokerman” pretty much describes the situation, at least in my opinion.

Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing.
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing. Freedom just around the corner for you
But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don’t show one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

You’re a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds,
Manipulator of crowds, you’re a dream twister.
You’re going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care?
Ain’t nobody there would want to marry your sister.
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame,
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy,
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers.
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed,
Michelangelo indeed could’ve carved out your features.
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space,
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh. oh. oh. Jokerman.

Well, the rifleman’s stalking the sick and the lame,
Preacherman seeks the same, who’ll get there first is uncertain.
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks,
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain,
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time ’til night comes steppin’ in.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

It’s a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray,
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet.
He’ll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat,
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot.

Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants,
Oh, Jokerman, you don’t show any response.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.