Sami Kuntar is a convicted murderer and one-time member of the Palestine Liberation Front. Imprisoned in Israel since 1979, Kuntar was reportedly part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah, signed July 7, 2008.CNN.com: Israel signs prisoner swap deal with Hezbollah (July 7, 2008)
Murders
Kuntar is convicted of murdering 4 Israelis on April 22, 1979. He and three other anti-Israeli militants landed on a beach in northern Israel, killed a policeman and broke into the home of the Haran family. Kuntar reportedly shot 28-year-old Danny Haran in front of his 4-year-old daughter Einat, then smashed Einat's skull with the butt of his rifle.The Washington Post: The World Should Know What He Did to My Family (May 18, 2003) The mother, Smadar Haran, hid with 2-year-old Yael, whom she accidentally smothered in an effort to keep quiet. Kuntar was tried and convicted of murdering all three victims, along with the policeman.The Washington Post: The World Should Know What He Did to My Family (May 18, 2003)
Possible Release
According to reports July 7, 2008, Kuntar was expected to be part of a group of prisoners Israel would exchange with Hezbollah, for the release of Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Regev and Goldwasser were captured by Hezbollah July 2006, sparking Israel's 34-day siege of Hezbollah strongholds in northern Lebanon. The soldiers are presumed to be dead, but Israel has long sought their remains. According to a June 2008 Israeli government report, Hezbollah's motive for kidnapping of Regev and Goldwasser may have been Kuntar's release.IsraelNationalNews.com: Olmert Admits Kidnapping Was To Free Kuntar (June 30, 2008)
