Hezbollah praises prisoner deal as victory for 'resistance'

Arab League chief hopes deal will pave way for releasing remainder of Palestinian prisoners; Hamas: Schalit won't be last soldier we kidnap.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hezbollah scouts march_311 (photo credit: Reuters)
Hezbollah scouts march_311
(photo credit: Reuters)
Hezbollah on Wednesday said that the deal to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for the kidnapped solider Gilad Schalit was a victory for the resistance, Lebanon's Daily Star reported.
According to the report, Hezbollah released a statement praising the agreement and saying that it showed that Palestinian resistance is "effective in regaining land, freeing prisoners, and preserving its freedom, dignity, and independence."
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The Hezbollah comments echoed Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who spoke on Tuesday when news of the deal broke, calling it a "great achievement."
The Arab League on Wednesday also welcomed the deal, with Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi expressing hope that the swap was a step towards releasing the thousasnds of Palestinian prisoners still in Israeli jails.
Hamas on Wednesday warned that Gilad Schalit will not be the last soldier that it will kidnap. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, Izzadin Kassam said that Schalit, who is set to be released as part of a prisoner exchange deal, "will not be the last solider kidnapped by Hamas as long as Israel keeps Palestinian prisoners detained."
The senior official added that his forces were committed to all the prisoners that remain in Israeli prisons after the prisoner swap deal, and their release will be the organization's top priority.