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Last update - 02:43 27/05/2008 The deal of the dead? By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff The statements made by Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah at the end of April 2006 were almost the same as what he said in his speech yesterday: "We are going to meet Samir Kuntar very soon." Two and a half months later, Hezbollah operatives kidnapped reserve soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. But yesterday's statements were made in an entirely different context: They may constitute an agreement in principle to an Israeli offer. Advertisement Israel can give relatively few "assets" in exchange for Regev and Goldwasser. The hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will wait for a deal with Hamas in return for releasing kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who is known to be alive. On the assumption that the deal includes the return of six live Lebanese and 10 bodies, what does that say about Regev and Goldwasser? The news is not good. Israel has paid with hundreds, even thousands of prisoners for living captives. A pending agreement can be attributed both to Israel's tough stance and Hezbollah's domestic success in Lebanon. When it comes to Hezbollah, Israel is operating differently than in talks over Shalit: it has refused to bow to pressure without receiving a sign of life. As for Nasrallah, his domestic victory allows him some room for maneuver. Last night's speech showed that Hezbollah has mostly recovered from the war, as Brigadier-General Yossi Baidatz, the head of Military Intelligence's research unit, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday. The disarming of Hamas is not on the table and the organization is once again part of the Lebanese cabinet. Nasrallah has proven himself, and can back down from his demand to release Palestinians. If he secures the return of Kuntar and the other Lebanese, the Palestinian prisoners can wait for Hamas. One obstacle does remain: Kuntar was the "bargaining chip" for information about missing airman Ron Arad. His family could mount a last-ditch public campaign, which, even if it does not stop the swap, will engender emotional public debate. Another question is how progress toward a Hezbollah deal will affect a Shalit exchange. Hamas seems in no hurry to close a prisoner deal with Israel. Will the broadcast of Kuntar's homecoming celebrations spur Hamas on? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Scuba SMS Ultrasonic sound wave technology revolutionizes underwater communication. 'Hip-hop violinist' Israeli violinist participates in New York event, celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary.

Read & React Bradley Burston: The talkbacker as terrorist Responses: 281 Barak tells Olmert: Quit or face elections Responses: 173 Reuven Pedatzur: How Carter made Israel an official nuclear power Responses: 149 Was Shakespeare a Jewish woman in disguise? Responses: 77 Sources: Iran may attack Israeli targets abroad over Syria talks Responses: 82 More Headlines 23:32 Olmert: Not every person under probe must resign 21:58 PM's ex-bureau chief denies offering to testify in Olmert corruption case 22:48 Syria: Olmert's political weakness may affect recently renewed peace talks 00:00 U.K. academic union moves to consider boycott of Israeli academia 02:08 U.S. trial set for two men accused of aiding Hezbollah 20:46 'Hip-hop violinist' celebrates Israel's 60th in New York 23:22 Fugitive suspected child abuser's kids removed from wife's custody 02:35 Jeremy Ben-Ami 01:41 Gaza City: Where the traffic jams smell like falafel 22:50 Poll: 63% of Israelis back release of Samir Kuntar for IDF soldiers 21:26 Basketball legend Dr. J: Israel is an inspiration for Jews in America 22:45 Haredi man detained for sexually assaulting 7-year-old girl 17:53 Aide: Obama misspoke when he said uncle liberated Auschwitz Previous Editions Select Day 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may

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