The attorneys for three Hezbollah militants taken prisoner by Israel Defense Forces troops in the Second Lebanon War say Tuesday that the prisoners should be recognized as prisoners of war.

An inquiry began Tuesday at Nazareth District Court into the preliminary testimony of the militants.

Lawyers for the prisoners said at the hearing that Hezbollah operated under the authority of Lebanese military forces.

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Attorney Smadar Ben-Natan said, "Israel placed the responsibility for Hezbollah operations with the Lebanese government, and Olmert even said this."

Also speaking at the hearing was defense attorney Reuven Paz, formerly a department head at the Shin Bet security service.

The trial of the prisoners began seven months ago, and is being conducted according to standard procedures for criminal trials.

The prisoners - Hussein Suleiman of Beirut, Maher Kourani of Yaatar and Mohammed Sarour of Ita a-Shaab - are charged with, among other things, with belonging to a terror organization and for attempted murder and kidnapping.

Suleiman is charged with murder and kidnapping for his involvement with the July 12 cross-border attack at Moshav Zarit, where eight IDF soldiers were killed and two kidnapped. That attack led to the outbreak of war.

All three prisoners were members of Hezbollah, were active as militants in the organization, and even participated in military training in Iran.

Suleiman and Kourani joined the group in 1998 and Sarour in 2004.

Their attorneys, Ben-Natan and Itai Hermlin, say the accused are not bound by the laws of the state, and are entitled to the status of prisoners of war.

The Northern District State Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in the indictment order that the defendants are not prisoners of war by its legal definition, but "illegal combatants," as they do not follow the rules and practices of war.