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Karnit Goldwasser speaking to Jewish Communities via a video conference Tuesday in Haifa. (Tomer Appelbaum)
Last update - 15:16 30/01/2008
Hezbollah number 2 threatens to kidnap additional IDF soldiers
By Yoav Stern and Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz correspondents
Tags: kidnapped soldiers, Hezbollah 

Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary general, on Tuesday threatened that the group would carry out additional kidnappings of Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

Qassem also reiterated Hezbollah's stance that it would not give up on a single prisoner it has demanded for exchange with Israel.

The Islamist group's deputy leader, Naeem Qassem, said: "If they [Israel] want to release, from a humanitarian standpoint, those who are with us, then we are prepared to do so, from a humanitarian standpoint, but only in the framework of a general deal."
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Speaking to supporters at a rally marking "Freedom Day," the group's deputy leader said, "We will continue the forceful position that influences the exchange equation, and from the position of patience, considering our steps and sure to reach results."

Qassem also declared that Hezbollah had won its 2006 war in Lebanon, and added that this was the first victory over Israel since the state's establishment nearly 60 years ago.

He also said that Syria and Iran were friends of his organization and promised that Hezbollah would continue to build its strength in Lebanese society.

IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped by Hezbollah militants in July, 2006, an event that sparked the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War.

Abducted soldier's wife urges Jews to act for troops' release

The wife of abducted Israel Defense Forces reservist Ehud Goldwasser on Tuesday urged Jewish communities to continue their efforts pushing for the release of kidnapped troops, but admitted that talks on the matter have stalled.

Karnit Goldwasser also said that the answer to the most basic question - whether the soldiers are still alive -has still gone unanswered.

IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped by Hezbollah militants in July, 2006, an event that sparked the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War.

Goldwasser said that she is prepared for the possibility "that my husband will come back healthy and sound, but I am also prepared for the opposite outcome. In the meanwhile, one and half years later, I am still alone without Udi."

Goldwasser spoke via video conference from Haifa University with Jewish communities in Singapore, Hong Kong and London. The conference was arranged by the Jewish Agency.

Benny Regev, the brother of Eldad Regev, also took part in the video conference from Jerusalem.

The two fielded questions and discusses their uncertainty regarding the fate of their loved ones.

"We travel around the world and speak to leaders and we want to know if they are alive or not. If they have a glass of water and a blanker and if they are receiving some kind of medical treatment," Goldwasser said.

Goldwasser said that the UN is holding talks with Hezbollah, however, she says that "everything is stuck."

"I know that you are trying to help," Goldwasser said to the Jewish communities, "but we need to continue to act until they come home. Write letters, send Emails, pressure political leaders and ask them to put all their effort into bringing them back."

Following the conference, Goldwasser refused to refer to the upcoming release of the Winograd Report that investigated the handling of the Second Lebanon War.

Goldwasser said she would only speak of the report after it was released and she had a chance to read it.

"We haven't eased up on our mission to free them and neither has the government. However, some of the things we are doing cannot be passed on to the media," Goldwasser added.

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      1.   Praying they`ll be safely home soon! 23:39  |  Free Gilad Shalit 29/01/08
      2.   the UN Sec Gen should help Karnit to travel to Iran and speak 23:58  |  Mike 29/01/08
      3.   Simple Solution, Israel Must Releases Lebanese POWs 00:51  |  Schlomo Joe 30/01/08
      4.   Hez bo bla bla bla 01:29  |  Bretware 30/01/08
      5.   Oh,Lebanese-lebanese, be careful.The next war will be end for Leb 01:41  |  Vittorio 30/01/08
      6.   Go ahead terrorist make our day 01:58  |  Dan 30/01/08
      7.   Does he want to lose the so called Lebanon? 01:59  |  Dan 30/01/08
      8.   Schlomo, they want mass child murdered kuntar he is not POW 02:00  |  Dan 30/01/08
      9.   Schlomo, simple land on plant earth before you utter your nonsens 02:01  |  Dan 30/01/08
      10.   #3, VITTORIO, and the end for israel 02:04  |  VIPER 30/01/08
      11.   What exactly did Hezballah win? 02:04  |  Alan 30/01/08
      12.   Israel haters will call this threat example of `Israel agression` 02:06  |  Dan 30/01/08
      13.   No. 1, Joe wrong 02:28  |  Misha 30/01/08
      14.   UN and Leb govt would be responsible 02:29  |  vik 30/01/08
      15.   how did he threaten? 03:07  |  mike 30/01/08
      16.   Looks like Hezbollah`s #2 is even more hardline than Nasrallah! 03:52  |  Pat Thomas 30/01/08
      17.   Just dare~ 04:01  |  Joey 30/01/08
      18.   Amazingly, Hizbollah is still claiming victory 04:21  |  Conroy 30/01/08
      19.   #3 Shmo Joe 04:43  |  * BEN JABO 30/01/08
      20.   #10 Viper - I take consolation in that you 04:45  |  * BEN JABO 30/01/08
      21.   #1 Free Gilad Shalit 04:47  |  * BEN JABO 30/01/08
      22.   New Lebanon war 05:34  |  Gregor 30/01/08
      23.   Israel lost this war, big time. 05:41  |  * BEN JABO 30/01/08
      24.   Hezbollah desperate 06:09  |  Reid 30/01/08
      25.   Hezbollah Definition of Victory 06:24  |  Brad 30/01/08
      26.   QASSEMS forgotten what hero in hiding Hassan Nasrallah said 06:47  |  PETER SM 30/01/08
      27.   VIPER NEED to disarm? Those who murder around the world daily 06:55  |  PETER SM 30/01/08
      28.   Lets admit it, Hizbollah won straight out! 07:18  |  The Palestinian 30/01/08
      29.   # 28 The war ended in stall mate 07:35  |  Adel 30/01/08
      30.   Qassem: we understand what you mean. A dog is after a new bone 08:15  |  avner 30/01/08
      31.   "THE Palestinian" Hero. Read what Nasrallah said about the war 08:40  |  PETER SM 30/01/08
      32.   ADEL Bahrain.Let`s hope some Jihadist doesn`t capture your child 08:57  |  PETER SM 30/01/08
      33.   So hizboliar wants to pick another fight 09:10  |  Adrian de Klerk 30/01/08
      34.   Hisbolair are cowards 09:12  |  Adrian de KLerk 30/01/08
      35.   The Hizbullah. 09:12  |  Harold Lane 30/01/08
      36.   hezbollah terrorists are provoking again 09:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/01/08
      37.   Hezbullying again, living up to their name 10:40  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 30/01/08
      38.   #3 schlomo Joe. 12:42  |  K 30/01/08
      39.   A waste of time to kidnap an Israeli soldier 13:27  |  tsipora 30/01/08
      40.   Another kidnapping of a soldier? 13:41  |  Nechama 30/01/08
      41.   LEBANON`S REAL ENEMY 16:24  |  NEIL GOLAN 30/01/08
      42.   Hi Ali Hez´u akbar (3) mixing many things 23:08  |  Karl 30/01/08
      43.   Harold (35), brilliant analysis of Syria´s part in ME. 00:04  |  Karl 31/01/08
      44.   #27, PETER SM, illogical once again 00:20  |  VIPER 31/01/08
      45.   #34, ADRIAN DE-KLERK, the anti-semetic 00:24  |  VIPER 31/01/08
      46.   #27 Where the REAL firepower is... 05:55  |  Advocate4Liberty 31/01/08
      47.   #46 Advocate 4 deceit 08:04  |  * BEN JABO 31/01/08
      48.   #47 continued 16:03  |  Advocate4Liberty 01/02/08
      49.   #48 Advocate 4 Deceit 17:43  |  * BEN JABO 01/02/08
      50.   The illigal state of israel doesn`t care 20:37  |  Alan 01/06/08
      51.   Goildwasser is a French Terrorist 02:31  |  USA 03/06/08
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