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Hezbollah spy Nassim Nasser arriving in Lebanon (AP) Not just a gesture By Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hezbollah, Prisoner exchange  "Nassim Nasser was freed in exchange for the body parts of Israeli soldiers," said the Web site of the Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar television station, adding that the swap was the first stage of negotiations. In making such a statement, Hezbollah is trying to undermine the Israeli position that it does not negotiate for body parts; the Israeli explanations that Nasser was due to be released anyway for legal reasons are not self-evident in Lebanon. To judge by reports in the Arab press, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has succeeded in selling his take on the prisoner swap, whereby there are no goodwill gestures, just tough negotiations in which Nasrallah is getting a live prisoner in exchange for body parts. Advertisement Nasrallah's negotiating tactics should be no surprise. The rule that no goodwill gestures or "gifts" are granted to the enemy remains intact, he says. Thus the exchange does not seem to be a last-minute decision, as it appeared from the way the remains were transferred, but the result of an earlier plan waiting only for the moment when Nassim Nasser returned to Lebanese soil. Sunday's visit to Lebanon by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is familiar with negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah, may have influenced the return of the remains, but a Lebanese source said the influence was "marginal" in the game being played by Nasrallah. That's because Nasrallah is not trying to demonstrate his capabilities to Israel alone. The Hezbollah leader still has a score to settle with the new Lebanese president, Michel Suleiman, who mentioned the return of all the prisoners during his speech at his swearing-in ceremony. Nasrallah is not willing to let the president of Lebanon win the prisoner jackpot; those prisoners are considered Hezbollah's private asset, not the Lebanese government's. The timing of the major deal depends on the concessions Nasrallah will be willing to make vis-a-vis the Israeli offer. His decision is bound to take into account how he will be able to reap as large a political bounty as possible, both within Lebanon and abroad. This political bounty was damaged in January, when Nasrallah made one of his biggest propaganda mistakes ever. The "body parts speech," which he made in his first public appearance since the Second Lebanon War, sparked fierce criticism of Nasrallah, in Arab countries as well as in Israel. "This great religion, Islam, never spoke about people like replacement parts," wrote Saudi publicist Ali Sa'ad al-Mussi in Al Wattan shortly after the speech, and similar sentiments were published in other Arab newspapers. A Lebanese pundit close to Hezbollah said that since the piercing criticism, Nasrallah has refrained from speaking publicly about body parts. He said this can be seen in the little attention the Hezbollah-run media gave to the return of the remains, compared with the media frenzy surrounding Nasser's return. Related articles: Israel 'surprised' to get soldiers' remains from Hezbollah German FM: Transfer of bodies by Hezbollah is bid to advance swap talks Israel to Hezbollah: Forget Palestinian prisoners in swap for IDF soldiers Bookmark to del.icio.us   Slamming Obama McCain uses speech to AIPAC to criticize Obama for willingness to meet U.S. foes. Soldier kidnapping Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier.   1.   "reasons are not self-evident in Lebanon" 03:48  |  Fish 02/06/08   2.   What is so "great" about Islam? 07:02  |  McQueen 02/06/08   3.   Anyone who kills Jews is a hero in the Arab Middle East 07:26  |  Dan 02/06/08   4.   to Fish you are fishing lies 08:45  |  gus 02/06/08   5.   First stage of the exchange 10:27  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08   6.   To Gus 10:52  |  Ehud 02/06/08   7.   to # 2 McQueen what is so "great" about Islam 11:25  |  Steve the Pals. 02/06/08   8.   Ehud and ilk 11:25  |  ClearCut 02/06/08   9.   macebre dealings 11:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/08   10.   Do anybody knows 11:46  |  Keops 02/06/08   11.   Laughable tactics 12:03  |  ScotGuy 02/06/08   12.   answer to Keops 12:13  |  northern neighbor 02/06/08   13.   iNatalie,..Nasrallah`s credibility is good 12:57  |  meir Gush Etzion 02/06/08   14.   #7 If only muslims practiced the 14th/15th Century version 14:18  |  DesMnsDave 02/06/08   15.   #7 Steve the Pals, of Toronto; You manipulate histoical events to 15:18  |  Max the Horoscope 02/06/08   16.   meir Gush Etzion 15:50  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08   17.   Fish - Your Nasrallah "quote" is an incendiary fake 16:03  |  Rebekah S 02/06/08   18.   # 7 Steve absolutely correct!! 16:08  |  utagawa 02/06/08   19.   #3 Dan 20:30  |  Tim 02/06/08   20.   #16 - Natallie`s Body Parts 21:36  |  A casual observer 02/06/08

Read & React Who didn't attend New York's pro-Israel march? Israelis Responses: 154 Doctors identify three IDF soldiers among remains handed over by Hezbollah Responses: 114 John McCain: U.S. is committed to preventing a second Holocaust Responses: 129 Barak: Hamas is exhibiting signs of distress Responses: 80 More Headlines 23:33 U.S., UN express concern over Israel's plan for 800 new E. Jerusalem homes 01:05 Olmert begins U.S. visit; set to meet with AIPAC, Bush 22:42 Doctors identify three IDF soldiers among remains handed over by Hezbollah 01:37 Natalie Portman to pitch Jewish-funded youth village in Rwanda 18:35 Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier 23:56 Senior IDF officer loses 'top secret' security documents 21:56 Israel lets Israeli Arabs into Jenin for first time since 2000 01:57 With primary in sight, Kadima chiefs scurry to drum up support 23:38 Despite Shas threats, Bar On says won't increase child welfare payments 20:25 Barak says general elections this year are 'entirely possible' 23:49 Court slams gov't for preventing Gazan students from studying abroad 20:19 U.S. imam fighting deportation talks of torture in Israeli detention Previous Editions Select Day 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may

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