Freed Lebanese prisoner given hero’s welcome

As Israel mourns its dead, Lebanon’s longest-serving prisoner, who was freed in the swap, has been given a hero’s welcome.

Deeply reviled in Israel for a triple killing 30 years ago, Samir Qantar says he has no regrets.

A member of the Druze minority, he was greeted by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who sat next to his Hezbollah political rival in a show of unity that proves tensions with Israel run deep in Lebanon.

In a rare public appearance, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah welcomed Qantar and four other freed prisoners on Wednesday evening.

Further celebrations were held on Thursday as the repatriated remains of 199 fighters were taken by convoy from southern Lebanon to Beirut.

The festivities have caused deep indignation in Israel where newspapers called them undignified.

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