Comments on: The PR Battle Over Samir Kuntar http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/ Blogging Lebanese politics, business and society since 2005 Wed, 23 May 2012 14:09:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: sad day http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12164 sad day Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:48:23 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12164 Dear Mar, I am glad you do not take people's word for things. You should always question. I heard a well known Israeli broadcaster (Ehud YA'Ari) on Israeli network speak about an interview he was present at with Geraldo Rivera and Samir Kuntar, but I searched the internet and could not find it. My apologies. I did find an article in the Guardian about an interview with Samir Kuntar that was published originally in the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv. If you chose to discount anything that has an Israeli source, there's nothing I can do to convince you that Samir Kuntar is a despicable human being for brutally murdering a four year old girl. My point is not to argue with you, my point is to say, let's keep the conversation going between PEOPLE, so people on both sides can see that not every lebanese is Israeli hating Hizballah, and not every Israeli is an Arab hating Jew. It's understandable if you are upset at Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians, or like the Shia post writer from South Lebanon. There are many people in Israel who disagree with the government's decisions regarding Palestinians and peace. It is NOT ok if you feel that the best way for you to show how upset you are is by smashing the skull of a four year old against a rock. Samir Kuntar is not a Palestinian, he wasn't displaced from his home - what's his beef with the Israelis? Look at the post from AL Adl: "So Kuntar killed a four year old Zionist, so what? She would have grown up to serve in the Zionist army and to kill/oppress Palestinians" After reading such a post, is there any wonder Israelis think Arabs are brainwashed to hate Jews of all age, civilians and soldiers? Al Adl and people like him who think it is ok to murder a four year old girl are not making peace any more possible. If you want to read the interview, Here is the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/19/lebanon.israelandthepalestinians Your Southern neighbor. Dear Mar,
I am glad you do not take people’s word for things. You should always question.
I heard a well known Israeli
broadcaster (Ehud YA’Ari) on Israeli network speak about an interview he was present at with Geraldo Rivera and Samir Kuntar, but I searched the internet and could not find it. My apologies.

I did find an article in the Guardian about an interview with Samir Kuntar that was published originally in the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv. If you chose to discount anything that has an Israeli source, there’s nothing I can do to convince you that Samir Kuntar is a despicable human being for brutally murdering a four year old girl.
My point is not to argue with you, my point is to say, let’s keep the conversation going between PEOPLE, so people on both sides can see that not every lebanese is Israeli hating Hizballah, and not every Israeli is an Arab hating Jew.

It’s understandable if you are upset at Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians, or like the Shia post writer from South Lebanon. There are many people in Israel who disagree with the government’s decisions regarding Palestinians and peace. It is NOT ok if you feel that the best way for you to show how upset you are is by smashing the skull of a four year old against a rock.

Samir Kuntar is not a Palestinian, he wasn’t displaced from his home – what’s his beef with the Israelis?

Look at the post from AL Adl:
“So Kuntar killed a four year old Zionist, so what? She would have grown up to serve in the Zionist army and to kill/oppress Palestinians”
After reading such a post, is there any wonder Israelis think Arabs are brainwashed to hate Jews of all age, civilians and soldiers?
Al Adl and people like him who think it is ok to murder a four year old girl are not making peace any more possible.

If you want to read the interview, Here is the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/19/lebanon.israelandthepalestinians
Your Southern neighbor.

]]> By: Mar http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12163 Mar Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:52:09 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12163 "This is not the israeli version of what Samir Kuntar did - Samir Kuntar himself said that’s what he did in a televised interview with Geraldo Rivera, an American Journalist. and he kep saying - i didn’t mean to, it was an accident."-- Posted by sad day Where can we find this alleged interview to watch for ourselves? I for one am not in the habit of just taking a person's word for it.... “This is not the israeli version of what Samir Kuntar did – Samir Kuntar himself said that’s what he did in a televised interview with Geraldo Rivera, an American Journalist. and he kep saying – i didn’t mean to, it was an accident.”– Posted by sad day

Where can we find this alleged interview to watch for ourselves? I for one am not in the habit of just taking a person’s word for it….

]]> By: Last Week Recap | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12162 Last Week Recap | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:18:12 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12162 [...] The PR Battle Over Samir Kuntar [...] [...] The PR Battle Over Samir Kuntar [...]

]]> By: Guy http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12161 Guy Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:55:35 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12161 Hi to the Shiaa poster from the South. Thank you for writing. I think you should write your childhood memories. Please realize that we also know very little. I do not think all the Shiaa are supporters of HA. This would be the same as saying all Jews support killing Arabs. And I do understand the reasons why HA is so popular, they actually help their people in day to day, in things that the govt doesn't. Fighting is a different thing - not cause I think it's somehow wrong to fight our military. But because I think Shiaa ended up suffering for a cause that is not their own. Whatever you may have learned, Israel really never had an ambition to expand its territory by conquering Lebanon. West Bank and Gaza, yes. Lebanon, no. We'd love to have open borders with you, trade, travel. Not once have I personally heard an Israeli, even the most right-wing one, talk about his desire to control Lebanon. It's not a part of the discourse, not even the most nationalist one. What is hard for me to understand is why people in Lebanon love these conspiracy theories. "Israeli version of the events".. Notice that Israel didn't make any story about the HA fighters that were returned with Quntar. They fought our army, were captured, imprisoned, and now exchanged. The Israeli outcry is not about the fact Shiaa (or Druze as in the case apparently is of Quntar) or Palestinians decide to fight. It's their right. A few years back there was an attack in Tel Aviv, a guy shot and killed a bunch of soldiers next to a base. There was no outcry although this is clearly horrible for their families. It was an attack on the military. Do I believe that Israeli soldiers committed crimes no different from Quntar's? Yes. I believe we have monsters too. The difference is, they will never boast of it, it is something they will have to hide because the minute this is known their lives will be hell. Saudi, Ali, et al - yes, you can celebrate someone as a military hero for fighting Israelis. Celebrate the other 4 guys who were returned. But doing what Quntar did is not fighting, don't you think? And yes, I agree, 30 years of occupation are very very hard to erase. I don't think we need to erase. We need to learn, on both sides. So do write your memories. And I hope to visit Lebanon one day - I hear it's an amazing place. Hi to the Shiaa poster from the South.

Thank you for writing.

I think you should write your childhood memories. Please realize that we also know very little.

I do not think all the Shiaa are supporters of HA. This would be the same as saying all Jews support killing Arabs. And I do understand the reasons why HA is so popular, they actually help their people in day to day, in things that the govt doesn’t.

Fighting is a different thing – not cause I think it’s somehow wrong to fight our military. But because I think Shiaa ended up suffering for a cause that is not their own. Whatever you may have learned, Israel really never had an ambition to expand its territory by conquering Lebanon. West Bank and Gaza, yes. Lebanon, no. We’d love to have open borders with you, trade, travel. Not once have I personally heard an Israeli, even the most right-wing one, talk about his desire to control Lebanon. It’s not a part of the discourse, not even the most nationalist one.

What is hard for me to understand is why people in Lebanon love these conspiracy theories. “Israeli version of the events”.. Notice that Israel didn’t make any story about the HA fighters that were returned with Quntar. They fought our army, were captured, imprisoned, and now exchanged. The Israeli outcry is not about the fact Shiaa (or Druze as in the case apparently is of Quntar) or Palestinians decide to fight. It’s their right. A few years back there was an attack in Tel Aviv, a guy shot and killed a bunch of soldiers next to a base. There was no outcry although this is clearly horrible for their families. It was an attack on the military.

Do I believe that Israeli soldiers committed crimes no different from Quntar’s? Yes. I believe we have monsters too. The difference is, they will never boast of it, it is something they will have to hide because the minute this is known their lives will be hell.

Saudi, Ali, et al – yes, you can celebrate someone as a military hero for fighting Israelis. Celebrate the other 4 guys who were returned. But doing what Quntar did is not fighting, don’t you think?

And yes, I agree, 30 years of occupation are very very hard to erase. I don’t think we need to erase. We need to learn, on both sides. So do write your memories. And I hope to visit Lebanon one day – I hear it’s an amazing place.

]]> By: Al-Adl http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12160 Al-Adl Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:40:01 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12160 So Kuntar killed a four year old Zionist, so what? She would have grown up to serve in the Zionist army and to kill/oppress Palestinians. How many children have the Zionists killed? An Zioinst killed, no matter at what age, equals a Palestinian spared. I don't feel pity for the Israelis at all. Let them shed alligator tears over their rotting corpses of "soldiers." Let's welcome back our heros. So Kuntar killed a four year old Zionist, so what? She would have grown up to serve in the Zionist army and to kill/oppress Palestinians. How many children have the Zionists killed? An Zioinst killed, no matter at what age, equals a Palestinian spared.

I don’t feel pity for the Israelis at all. Let them shed alligator tears over their rotting corpses of “soldiers.” Let’s welcome back our heros.

]]> By: Saudi http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12159 Saudi Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:46:54 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12159 ?Well, Israel have killed thousends of children and families in Palistine and Lebanon, it's people consedir thier military as a hero and they are bround of it. So why Lebanon can not celebrate one of its hero too? ?Well, Israel have killed thousends of children and families in Palistine and Lebanon, it’s people consedir thier military as a hero and they are bround of it. So why Lebanon can not celebrate one of its hero too?

]]> By: shunkleash http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12158 shunkleash Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:11:37 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12158 Thanks "ali" for making my point...LOL! Thanks “ali” for making my point…LOL!

]]> By: sad day http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12157 sad day Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:43:31 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12157 I have to say that as an israeli it really surprised me to see the bloggers here. Thank God for the internet, because otherwise i would think that ALL Lebanese are supporters or Hizballah. Yes i know that israel is not perfect, and that israel has done some things that we need to be ashamed of (the treatment of palestinians in the occupied territories, and actions and events during the two lebanon wars) but i want to correct the words of TOGUY at 10:23pm - "they weren't exactly on a peace spreading mission". What happened was that Hizballah crossed over to the israeli side, they were on ISRAELI land when they ambushed the soldiers, shot a missile on their vehicle and then pulled them out and dragged them into lebanon. The Israeli soldiers were not in Lebanon, Hizballah was in Israel. The other thing I wanted to share is the inhumaness of Nassrallah. Prisoners in israel are treated for health problems, they get and send letters and packages from their families and the red cross, and the red cross visits them to make sure they are not mistreated. Samir Kuntar earned TWO university degrees in israeli prisons at the expense of the Israeli tax payer. Prison anywhere is not a country club, but compare the treatment of Samir Kuntar who bashed in the head of a four year old girl against a rock with the butt of his rifle in front of her father's eyes, and compare that with nassrallah's treatment of our two soldiers - Nass refused to even tell us if they were alive or dead! not to mention let anyone visit them, or see them, or receive letters from them. That is so cruel i am speechless. That's what he did last time, too, after the war when he had the despicable drug dealer Elchanan tenenbaum. he said to the families of the missing soldiers - you will know if your children are alive or dead on the day we make the swap. Then you will know if you receive a coffin or your son back. How cruel and vicious can this man be? And what does it say about those people in Lebanon who see him and kuntar as heroes? Finally, i want to also refer to the comment about whether or not people believe israel stories about kuntar killing Einat Haran. This is not the israeli version of what Samir Kuntar did - Samir Kuntar himself said that's what he did in a televised interview with Geraldo Rivera, an American Journalist. and he kep saying - i didn't mean to, it was an accident. Really. what a despicable human being. A hero, smashing the head of a four year old girl. My grandmother tells me of days when she would go with her family to vacation in Beirut. What a beautiful city! she said it was like the Paris of the Middle East. The mountains and the snow - like Switzerland of the middle east. Inshallah, let there be peace between us, and we can come visit again and you can come see how beautiful our country is.... I have to say that as an israeli it really surprised me to see the bloggers here. Thank God for the internet, because otherwise i would think that ALL Lebanese are supporters or Hizballah. Yes i know that israel is not perfect, and that israel has done some things that we need to be ashamed of (the treatment of palestinians in the occupied territories, and actions and events during the two lebanon wars) but i want to correct the words of TOGUY at 10:23pm – “they weren’t exactly on a peace spreading mission”. What happened was that Hizballah crossed over to the israeli side, they were on ISRAELI land when they ambushed the soldiers, shot a missile on their vehicle and then pulled them out and dragged them into lebanon. The Israeli soldiers were not in Lebanon, Hizballah was in Israel. The other thing I wanted to share is the inhumaness of Nassrallah. Prisoners in israel are treated for health problems, they get and send letters and packages from their families and the red cross, and the red cross visits them to make sure they are not mistreated. Samir Kuntar earned TWO university degrees in israeli prisons at the expense of the Israeli tax payer. Prison anywhere is not a country club, but compare the treatment of Samir Kuntar who bashed in the head of a four year old girl against a rock with the butt of his rifle in front of her father’s eyes, and compare that with nassrallah’s treatment of our two soldiers – Nass refused to even tell us if they were alive or dead! not to mention let anyone visit them, or see them, or receive letters from them. That is so cruel i am speechless. That’s what he did last time, too, after the war when he had the despicable drug dealer Elchanan tenenbaum. he said to the families of the missing soldiers – you will know if your children are alive or dead on the day we make the swap. Then you will know if you receive a coffin or your son back. How cruel and vicious can this man be? And what does it say about those people in Lebanon who see him and kuntar as heroes?
Finally, i want to also refer to the comment about whether or not people believe israel stories about kuntar killing Einat Haran. This is not the israeli version of what Samir Kuntar did – Samir Kuntar himself said that’s what he did in a televised interview with Geraldo Rivera, an American Journalist. and he kep saying – i didn’t mean to, it was an accident. Really. what a despicable human being. A hero, smashing the head of a four year old girl.
My grandmother tells me of days when she would go with her family to vacation in Beirut. What a beautiful city! she said it was like the Paris of the Middle East. The mountains and the snow – like Switzerland of the middle east. Inshallah, let there be peace between us, and we can come visit again and you can come see how beautiful our country is….

]]> By: Lebanese Bloggers Not Happy With Kuntar Celebrations | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12156 Lebanese Bloggers Not Happy With Kuntar Celebrations | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:26:19 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12156 [...] bloggers are not alone; A quick look at the dozens of denouncing comments in one of my previous posts, and you get the general pulse of the disgusted [...] [...] bloggers are not alone; A quick look at the dozens of denouncing comments in one of my previous posts, and you get the general pulse of the disgusted [...]

]]> By: ali http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12155 ali Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:12:09 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2008/07/15/the-pr-battle-over-samir-kuntar/#comment-12155 Kheireddine. why do you think they were attacking israel? Because their land was stolen if someone comes and focefully takes your home are you gonna smile and give them coffee? Kheireddine. why do you think they were attacking israel? Because their land was stolen if someone comes and focefully takes your home are you gonna smile and give them coffee?

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