Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 27, 2009 Shvat 2, 5769 | | Israel Time: 11:52 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  98
Last update - 00:00 26/05/2008
J'lem sources say Israel and Hezbollah strike prisoner swap deal
By Yoav Stern and Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies
Tags: Israel, Hezbollah, Abductees 

Click here for more articles by Yossi Melman

Israeli sources said Monday that Israel and Hezbollah had struck a deal securing the release of two Israeli soldiers captured by the Lebanon-based militant group in a July 2006 cross border raid that sparked the Second Lebanon War.

The sources explained that in exchange for the captives, Israel would release Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese militant currently imprisoned in Israel for the 1979 murder of a Nahariyah family, an Israeli citizen jailed for espionage on Hezbollah's behalf and four other Hezbollah men captured by Israel during the 2006 war. The deal reportedly will also include the return of the remains of ten Lebanese, currently held by Israel, to Hezbollah.
Advertisement
Earlier Monday, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah hinted that a prisoner swap would soon be completed, telling supporters in Beirut that Kuntar would soon be freed.

The sources refrained from commenting on whether the Israeli captives, Ehud Golwasser and Eldad Regev, were alive. However, a medical report encompassing evidence from the site of the kidnapping near Israel's northern border maintained that at both Israel Defense Forces soldiers were seriously hurt at the scene.

The sources added that the fact that the deal did not include any Palestinian prisoners held in Israel may be indicative of the Israeli captives' condition.

The timetable for the exchange of prisoners is not yet clear.

Meanwhile Monday, another source involved in the negotiations over the release of the two captive soldiers said "a prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah is yet far off."

According to the source, Israel has not received any information in recent days to indicate that a deal is in fact within reach. The source added that the German mediator who has been working on the deal was not in Beirut last week, in contrast with media reports to the contrary.

"Nasrallah doesn't coordinate his speeches with Israel," the source stressed, saying that the fact that Nasrallah hinted in his speech Monday that Samir Kuntar would soon be released from the Israeli prison in which he has been held since 1979, was not a new revelation. As long as four years ago, Nasrallah proclaimed that Samir Kuntar would be released in the second part of the exchange deal that saw another Israeli Hezbollah captive, Elhanan Tenenbaum, returned to Israel. However, after Nasrallah failed to fulfill his part of the deal - to provide Israel with information regarding the missing navigator Ron Arad - Israel responded in kind and refused to release Kuntar.

The source stressed that one may take solace in the fact that Nasrallah, in the sole sentence in which he referred to any prisoner exchange, did not mention the release of Palestinian prisoners, as he has consistently done in the past. Nasrallah's demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel has, in the past, been the main obstacle standing in the way of an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.

As was reported in Haaretz last week, Israel has made it clear, via the German mediator, that it would not release Palestinian prisoners in an exchange with a Lebanese organization. Israel explained that the negotiations surrounding the prisoner exchange was underway within the framework of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, the resolution that ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah, which applies only to Lebanon, and not to the Palestinian Authority.

The source also said that Israel cannot expect, in light of Hezbollah's past behavior, for specific information about whether the prisoners are alive prior to the execution of the exchange. "Unfortunately," he said, "we will know at the very last minute whether the soldiers are returned alive or in coffins."

Nasrallah: Samir Kuntar will soon be released
Earlier Monday, Nasrallah addressed thousands of his supporters in a speech broadcast on a screen in the Lebanese capital. "Samir Kuntar and his brothers will soon be among you," Nasrallah told the crowd. The Hezbollah leader rarely appears in public, fearing Israeli assassination.

"Releasing the prisoners is our duty and it is our holy mission," Nasrallah said without providing any further details.

"The family has been informed of some positive developments within
the next 30 days regarding my brother as well as all the other
prisoners held in Israel," Bassam Kuntar, Samir's brother, told the German news agency DPA on Monday.

The speech Monday was to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000.

"Just as we fought in the July war [Second Lebanon War], so we will fight in the next war," Nasrallah said, referring to the Israeli withdrawal. "The Gaza Strip is fighting Israel just as we did. The strategy of resistance succeeded in Lebanon and will succeed in Gaza too."

'Real progress in talks'
Lebanese political sources also said Monday that major progress has been made in the United Nations-sponsored indirect talks between Israel and Hezbollah over the release of the two soldiers.

The sources said a German mediator held talks with Hezbollah officials in Beirut last week and a breakthrough appeared close. The Lebanese sources gave no further details.

A Western diplomatic source close to the negotiations told DPA in Beirut that, "All I can say is that the German mediators have been successful
in removing some of the prevailing obstacles, which registered some
progress in the file on prisoners."

"I think some of the Hezbollah leaders will make it official and
will speak about this progress," said the diplomat.

The UN-appointed German negotiator began his mission in late 2006. Very little has been heard on the talks since.


Related articles:
  • Yishai, Mubarak discuss efforts to free captive IDF soldiers
  • World's Jewish communities to rally for kidnapped IDF soldiers
  • Abductees' families cautiously optimistic over Hezbollah deal
  • Russian FM: IDF soldiers held in Lebanon alive, in good condition
  • Free the monster Samir Kuntar
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Venezuela's Jews
    Jewish community head: 'Chavez's government endorses anti-Semitism.'
    Breakthrough start-up
    WATCH: Israeli company invents radiation-free lung imaging system.
      1.   Israel Should Not Release Kuntar 14:28  |  Khaled 26/05/08
      2.   I hope the negotiations succeed; but if they don`t 14:31  |  Yonatan 26/05/08
      3.   It`s unfair to the families of these men! 15:25  |  Avi 26/05/08
      4.   Just want to read the headline that says they`ve been released. 15:38  |  Alive 26/05/08
      5.   It`s funny, how many Israelis have a "terrorist" mindset 16:09  |  Natallie Durson 26/05/08
      6.   These stories, sadly, usually end up going nowhere 16:16  |  Richard S 26/05/08
      7.   #3 very true 16:41  |  Johnnymac 26/05/08
      8.   miracle 17:02  |  jacob 26/05/08
      9.   Sadly they are probably dead 17:07  |  Jane 26/05/08
      10.   It makes sense if you think about it 17:09  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/05/08
      11.   The Lebanese kidnapped by Israel should be released. 17:10  |  John 26/05/08
      12.   Haaretz is adopting wordd!!. How do u kidnap a soldiers? 17:14  |  John 26/05/08
      13.   #5 17:15  |  jeff 26/05/08
      14.   They are more than likely MUERTO! 17:21  |  Ripper 26/05/08
      15.   #13 Natallie said "Israels" NOT jews. Stop twisting words. 17:34  |  John 26/05/08
      16.   What will we get from them? 17:37  |  Dror 26/05/08
      17.   Mis informed John #12 17:39  |  ROBERT/MONTREAL 26/05/08
      18.   #15 John Natalie has said Jews in the past, 17:43  |  Robert/Lovell 26/05/08
      19.   #17 Robert. Soldiers were at hot frontline and armed. 17:49  |  John 26/05/08
      20.   Definition of Kidnapping 17:52  |  Robert/Montreal 26/05/08
      21.   #19 I sent you a definition. 18:00  |  Robert Lovell 26/05/08
      22.   to Jane no 9 18:36  |  Tina 26/05/08
      23.   John I wanted to be sure North and South Korea have no Peace Plan 18:43  |  Robert Lovell 26/05/08
      24.   We should repsect Hizbiollah 18:52  |  Miche Norman 26/05/08
      25.   Not a rumour then? 19:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/05/08
      26.   # Robert Lovell. Ceasefire is not a peace treaty. 19:34  |  John 26/05/08
      27.   The only language 19:55  |  Marwan 26/05/08
      28.   DREAM ON - HEZBOLLAH WILL MAKE MORE DEMANDS 20:08  |  * BEN JABO 26/05/08
      29.   To #27 the only language 20:18  |  Boris 26/05/08
      30.   kuntar should be released 20:23  |  Gabriel( zionist) 26/05/08
      31.   jane / tina 20:38  |  Imad 26/05/08
      32.   If Nasrallah says it will happen, it will happen 20:41  |  Natallie Durson 26/05/08
      33.   HEZBOLLAH IS THE ONLY PARTY THAT COULD DEAL WITH ISRAEL PROPERLY 20:50  |  indrajaya 26/05/08
      34.   Action by Pres. Michel Suleiman ? Maybe..!! 20:51  |  Stephen. 26/05/08
      35.   Ripper 21:10  |  Scott G 26/05/08
      36.   Sure, give Hizbullah everything! 21:12  |  Fred McCann 26/05/08
      37.   hizballah has given in for two reasons 21:16  |  yair 26/05/08
      38.   The masters hand 21:18  |  Danite 26/05/08
      39.   we should not betray ron arad 21:19  |  yair 26/05/08
      40.   Kuntar 21:24  |  Jim 26/05/08
      41.   This is disgusting 21:44  |  Adrian de Klerk 26/05/08
      42.   Hezbullah should never release Jewish terrorists 21:51  |  Khaled 26/05/08
      43.   According to Asharq Aswat, 21:52  |  ManintheMiddle 26/05/08
      44.   Give them Kuntar 21:56  |  Dror 26/05/08
      45.   Arad 22:06  |  Baz Mann 26/05/08
      46.   Word is that releasing Israelis was part of power-sharing deal 22:19  |  Pablo B 26/05/08
      47.   #32 Natalie Durson "Delusions of adequacy" 22:21  |  H 26/05/08
      48.   No exchange of alive for dead! 22:23  |  msh 26/05/08
      49.   SWAP : Less than perfect 22:27  |  PARIS 26/05/08
      50.   #42 Dror 22:45  |  Scott G 26/05/08
      51.   Imad Forgets Which Came First Cart or Horse 22:56  |  Jane 26/05/08
      52.   NEVER RELEASE SAMIR KUNTAR 22:58  |  yonatan 26/05/08
      53.   dead man walking 22:59  |  peter 26/05/08
      54.   Israel again reluctant... 23:19  |  Esther 26/05/08
      55.   John of London 23:21  |  Londoner 26/05/08
      56.   #51 Jane 23:48  |  Scott G 26/05/08
      57.   Hezbollah Prisoner Exchange 23:56  |  Reid 26/05/08
      58.   to jane I pray they are alive 00:08  |  gus 27/05/08
      59.   To Jhon thank you 00:13  |  gus 27/05/08
      60.   to Nattalie how nice to be credible 00:18  |  gus 27/05/08
      61.   to Indragaya, completely true 00:21  |  gus 27/05/08
      62.   Adrian De klerk 00:23  |  Labhras 27/05/08
      63.   samir al kuntar bludgeoned children to death 00:25  |  yair 27/05/08
      64.   To bazz man what you said is true 00:29  |  gus 27/05/08
      65.   to Peter, Dead nation waking 00:31  |  gus 27/05/08
      66.   Prepare 5 to 6 Portions Of The Caustic Cocktail That Once Flowed 00:58  |  Lavi 27/05/08
      67.   Swap Life for Life and Death for Death 01:19  |  WYSIWYG 27/05/08
      68.   Poor prospects to see them smile 01:28  |  Tosefta 27/05/08
      69.   If Hezb arrives w. 2 coffins, execute Kuntar, give them his body. 01:49  |  Dr. L. Brnd 27/05/08
      70.   israel strenghtening hezzbollah 01:56  |  paulo 2005 27/05/08
      71.   Samir Kuntar`s body should be released 02:26  |  * BEN JABO 27/05/08
      72.   SEND THIS POISONOUS EXCUSE FOR A MAN .. 02:33  |  Mary Ashkelon 27/05/08
      73.   Linthwaite has a strange idea of "making sense" 02:40  |  Free Gilad Shalit 27/05/08
      74.   I just hope ... it is only a boddy 02:43  |  Hashem 27/05/08
      75.   Chris Linthwaite continued 02:54  |  Free Gilad Shalit 27/05/08
      76.   If Kuntar is released for corpses, Olmert should resign 03:27  |  McQueen 27/05/08
      77.   Fairness 03:34  |  Am Meuchad 27/05/08
      78.   Prisoner exchange or "remains returned" 03:57  |  Avrum 27/05/08
      79.   Let`s make a deal! 04:02  |  Moshe 27/05/08
      80.   msh talks about immorality 04:24  |  wibism 27/05/08
      81.   Are the POWS still alive? .Arabs killed the last 4 POW`s 04:30  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
      82.   KUNTAR beat a child to death before surrendering,an Arab hero! 04:35  |  PETER SM 27/05/08
      83.   If this is true 05:18  |  Mark Lincoln 27/05/08
      84.   KUNTAR WAS NOT WORSE THAN DICHTER 05:29  |  indrajaya 27/05/08
      85.   #42 Khaled 06:05  |  geoff 27/05/08
      86.   Why is Olmert so stupid? 06:22  |  Rafa 27/05/08
      87.   Chris Linthwaite 06:35  |  Dan 27/05/08
      88.   KUNTAR 08:15  |  Jon 27/05/08
      89.   Oh the irony of it all 09:07  |  Adrian de Klerk 27/05/08
      90.   Israel strengthens HizbulShaitan 09:11  |  AusLeb 27/05/08
      91.   isreal tiny miny mind 09:39  |  Mona 27/05/08
      92.   Prisoners 10:28  |  Uzi 27/05/08
      93.   Free Gilad Shalit 11:44  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/05/08
      94.   Indrajaya - Indonesia Must Hand Over Its Militants 11:51  |  Craig 27/05/08
      95.   #87 Dan of Haifa 11:57  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/05/08
      96.   #5 Natallie Durson 13:04  |  Steve 27/05/08
      97.   Linthwaite #93 15:39  |  Free Gilad Shalit 27/05/08
      98.   Ron Arad/ Kuntar 16:58  |  Steve 27/05/08
     Read & React
    Obama: Time for Palestinians, Israel to resume peace talks
    Responses: 47
    Miri Eisin: Is only the Israeli narrative 'the truth' and all the others wrong?
    Responses: 24
    Bradley Burston: The Gaza War as reality television
    Responses: 17
    EU aid chief: Hamas 'enormously responsible' for Gaza war
    Responses: 57
    Summit on Holocaust: Gaza war legitimized equating Jews with Nazis
    Responses: 45


    More Headlines
    11:46 Bomb explodes near IDF patrol along Gaza border
    10:27 Israel stymies French push to lift European boycott of Hamas
    10:24 Sarkozy to update Shalit's father on latest efforts to free son
    07:57 Obama: Time for Palestinians, Israel to resume peace talks
    03:31 ANALYSIS / Recognizing that Israel's effort to topple Hamas has failed
    11:22 Auschwitz survivors gather to mark Nazi death camp's liberation
    08:43 Kadima kicks off campaign with threat to assassinate Hamas chiefs
    11:30 After 60 years, Jewish siblings separated in Holocaust reunited
    10:46 Israel to face 'catastrophe' without Palestinian state, says Jimmy Carter
    09:05 Police say case against Lieberman boosted by newly revealed documents
    09:11 Barak seeking to 'Putinize' image to attract Russian vote
    11:31 Summit on Holocaust: Gaza war legitimized equating Jews with Nazis
    02:20 Head of right-wing think tank: Settlements must be evacuated
    11:24 Israel Eurovision singers skip benefit concert for Gaza civilians, citing political tug-of-war
    04:15 Gideon Levy / My Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Avraham Ravitz
    08:13 Suspect in Tel Aviv pedophile case ran child prostitution ring
    08:54 Vatican: Comments by bishop who denied Holocaust unacceptable
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved