Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., October 16, 2007 , | | Israel Time: 06:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Miki Golwasser, mother of captive IDF soldier Ehud, speaking at a rally in Haifa with her son's picture as the backdrop earlier this year. (Dror Artzi / Jini) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 06:43 16/10/2007 Abductees' families cautiously optimistic over Hezbollah deal By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent The families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers whose abduction by Hezbollah last year triggered the Second Lebanon War, reacted with cautious optimism on Monday to the first deal between Israel and the militant organization since the war ended. Members of both families told Haaretz they had been informed in advance of the deal for the release by Israel of a Hezbollah guerrilla suffering a mental illness and the bodies of two others in exchange for the body of an Israeli civilian. Various sources said the agreement came as part of a larger negotiation process on the release of the two soldiers, but their families refused to elaborate, which could suggest that the soldier's relatives have additional information that they are reluctant to reveal. Advertisement Eyal Regev, the abducted soldier's brother, said the family hoped the transaction would help establish trust between Israel and Hezbollah, so as to expedite the deal for his brother's release. "It creates a positive atmosphere, and I hope it serves to help matters along," he said. Regev added that bringing his brother back was "a moral duty for the state and for the prime minister." He also said, "We are still in the dark about their condition." Ehud's father, Shlomo, said he favored lowering expectations. "We were told that this was just a deal to establish trust and nothing more. They said this deal is not connected to the return of our sons." Like Eyal Regev, Shlomo Goldwasser also spoke of the uncertainty his family was in with regard to the condition of his son. Ehud's mother, Miki, said she drew encouragement from the fact that three Lebanese families have now received word on their sons. "This proves it is possible to make headway in negotiations," she said. "I hope the Lebanese families will pressure their government and Hezbollah to promote the larger deal." Noam Shalit, father of Gilad, who was abducted by Hamas near the Gaza Strip some three weeks before Goldwasser and Regev were kidnapped, said he does not regard the deal announced on Monday as meaningful for his son's release, but that he hoped "this move will set the scene for future steps that will follow, and eventually lead to Ehud and Eldad's release." A senior government source said late last month that Egypt continues to negotiate with Hamas for Shalit's release, but the intensity of these talks has decreased. "When the Egyptians were in Gaza [before the Hamas takeover of the Strip in June], contacts were on a daily basis, and today they are a bit less," the source said. Related articles: ANALYSIS: Swap is at most a mutual gesture of goodwill Hezbollah deputy chief: Prisoner swap talks with Israel 'serious' PM: Freeing prisoners may help bring abducted soldiers home IDF analysis shows soldiers wounded at time of kidnapping Bookmark to del.icio.us Part of Jerusalem? PM Olmert questions whether Arab neighborhoods should be defined as part of the capital. Who is a Jew? Israel's draft constitution states that 'every Jew is entitled to immigrate to Israel.'

Today Online Israel, Hezbollah in swap said to include info on Ron Arad Responses: 77 Olmert hints Israel willing to part with Arab areas of J'lem Responses: 394 Amira Hass: Israel has turned the Gaza Strip into a zoo Responses: 335 Draft constitution ignores question of who is a Jew Responses: 83 Rabin assassin Yigal Amir asks to attend son's circumcision Responses: 92 Haaretz.com TV: Despite lobby's power, U.S. Jews are losing their bond to Israel Responses: 85 Rosner's Domain * Rice "understand risks to announcing a meeting" (WTR) * Guest: How to stop Hamas from spoiling Annapolis? * McCain is the pro-peace process GOP candidate * Poll: Is Rice's effort brave, pathetic, realistic, dangerous? More Headlines 03:21 Israel, Hezbollah conduct first swap since 2006 war 06:35 ANALYSIS: Israel, Hezbollah need no trust building measures 06:43 Abductees' families cautiously optimistic over Hezbollah deal 02:54 Likud urges Shas, Lieberman to quit gov't over PM's 'intention' 04:26 Cartoon spat prompts Shas to quit Knesset religious lobby 03:56 Balad activist murdered on doorstep of his business in Lod 05:32 Justice Minister orders drafting of bill limiting length of criminal probes 06:15 Medical students prefer not to intern in Israel's periphery 23:17 Polish right-wing party accused of running anti-Semitic campaign ad 06:32 Prisons Service refuses to allow Yigal Amir to attend son's circumcision Previous Editions Select Day 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 05 oct 04 oct 03 oct 02 oct

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