The PR Battle Over Samir Kuntar

Both Hezbollah and Israel are gearing up for a big day of propaganda over what Samir Kuntar represents.

Who is Samir Kuntar?

Is he a hero returning to his home victoriously after being jailed and tortured at an Israeli dungeon for righteously fighting a murderous, land-grabbing regime? Or is he a terrorist baby-killer who was magnanimously released by a morally superior nation which values its soldiers dignity to the extent it will sacrifice anything for it?

Whatever you think the answer is, rest assured tomorrow that Hezbollah and Israel will do their best to brainwash us with the “right answer”.

Israelis, through their connections to the international media, their sharp-looking spokespeople and their eloquent sounding editorialists will speak in graphic details about how Mr. Kuntar murdered an innocent family, arguing in the process that the episode proves that Israel is taking the higher moral ground by sacrificing justice for the dignity of their soldiers.

Hezbollah on the other hand will point to the huge crowd expected to celebrate tomorrow and ask the world: How could all these people be wrong? Mr. Kuntar gave up his freedom and youth to fight a murderous regime that is illegally occupying another people’s land and killing its children.

The Lebanese government officially backs Hezbollah’s narrative. It has called Mr. Kuntar’s release a victorious day for every Lebanese and has declared tomorrow a national holiday to properly celebrate the prisonners’ return. So be very careful how you answer the next question:

Who is Samir Kuntar?

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