By YARIV BEN-ELIEZER The media's role in last week's prisoner exchange with Hizbullah was to pander to the lowest common denominator, because the public is very emotional.

HAIFA, Israel _ They came by the thousands to say goodbye: those who loved them, those who fought with them and those who knew them only after they became unexpected symbols of Israel's volatile place in modern Middle East history.

JERUSALEM _ Two Israeli soldiers whose bodies were returned in a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah were buried Thursday in emotional funerals broadcast live on national television.

By ZEINA KARAM, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIRUT, Lebanon Five Lebanese militants freed from prisons in Israel in exchange for the bodies of two captured Israeli soldiers returned home Wednesday to a boisterous welcome from hundreds of cheering spectators.

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday to pay final respects to Israeli Sgt. Maj. Eldad Regev whose body was returned in a prisoner swap. Thousands more were reported on hand the day before for the funeral of Sgt. Maj.