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Last update - 04:44 22/06/2008 Most ministers back Hezbollah prisoner swap By Amos Harel, Jack Khoury, and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Ehud Goldwasser, Israel  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold security consultations on Sunday ahead of approving a deal with Hezbollah to return kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Security sources told Haaretz that previous reports notwithstanding, Defense Minister Ehud Barak supported the outlines of the proposed deal. Most other ministers are also said to favor the swap. A senior official in the Prime Minister's Bureau said on Sunday the deal with Hezbollah would not be completed this week. An internal cabinet meeting has been set for Wednesday, but a deal with Hezbollah will not be on the agenda. "Even if a vote is taken this week, it will take a few more weeks until the deal is complete," the source said. A government source close to talks with Hezbollah said Israel is still demanding clear information on the soldiers' condition before a swap can be approved. If they are dead, a possibility based on the soldiers' injuries at the time of the abduction, Israel would be releasing live terrorists - reportedly Hezbollah operatives captured in the Second Lebanon War and terrorist Samir Kuntar - for dead bodies. Advertisement Israel also wants to know whether Hezbollah can shed light on missing airman Ron Arad; senior defense officials are reportedly divided over the release of Kuntar, considered the last bargaining chip for Arad. A government source said most of the ministers supported the deal even if the soldiers are not alive. "Everyone understands this deal has to be closed as soon as possible because it has a major impact on the matter of Gilad Shalit. The prime minister's representative, Ofer Dekel, will leave midweek for Egypt to renew indirect talks with Hamas on Shalit. Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi met separately Friday with the families of the three kidnapped soldiers. After his meeting with Barak, Shlomo Goldwasser, Ehud Goldwasser's father, said that he had asked Barak to approve the swap, and that the soldiers' condition had not been discussed. "Our assumption is that they were kidnapped alive," Goldwasser said. The Goldwasser and Regev families will meet on Sunday morning with Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Shas chairman, Industry, Trade and Employment Minister Eli Yishai, to ask for Shas' support of the swap. Senior Shas figures said they would vote based on Yosef's decision, which he would formulate over the weekend. After their meeting with Yosef, the Goldwassers and Regevs met with government ministers. "I am really very disquieted over whether the ministers will vote on the deal and therefore we want to meet with them. Then I can put my head on the pillow and sleep a little," Miki Goldwasser, Ehud Goldwasser's mother, told Haaretz. Related articles: PMO: Prisoner exchange with Hezbollah not likely next week Families of abducted soldiers to tell Barak: Swap prisoners with Hezbollah Head of Lebanese terrorist's village: We're preparing for Kuntar's homecoming Sunday Mother of missing soldier: Hezbollah will kidnap again if Kuntar not returned Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sarkozy's promise 'France will never compromise Israel's security' Israel's agenda Is an Israeli strike on Iran still on the government's agenda?   1.   What prisoners swap? 08:59  |  Dan 22/06/08   2.   # 1 to dan in haifa re: prisoner swaps 10:29  |  eric 22/06/08   3.   thank you israeli ministers 11:36  |  ClearCut 22/06/08   4.   #2 : Much LESS !!! 12:24  |  msh 22/06/08   5.   most of olmert`s minister support our surrender as a state also! 14:02  |  Arie 22/06/08   6.   # 4 to msh re: swaps 07:53  |  eric 23/06/08

Read & React Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel Responses: 347 Israel: There will be no Shalit deal unless Hamas is flexible Responses: 103 Yossi Melman: Israel is a long way from attacking Iran Responses: 148 Report: N. Koreans worked on Iran nukes at Syria plant hit by IAF Responses: 116 Gideon Levy: Does Israel really want peace? Responses: 127 Rosner's Domain Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? Will we see a record number of Jewish lawmakers? (2) Comparing Obama and Chamberlain (WTR) Guests: intermarried Jews are more distant from Israel The Joe Lieberman dilemma More Headlines 08:12 Hezbollah deal delayed over demand to include Palestinian prisoners 08:15 Report: Israel to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit 08:17 ANALYSIS / Prisoner deals - risk of an unsolved mystery 08:18 Sarkozy: There won't be Middle East peace without Syria talks 05:44 Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? 03:09 Frustrated and losing hope, Shalit's parents fight Gaza cease-fire 06:49 What are 300 Anglican clergy doing in Jerusalem? 19:19 Panel: Germany gave Israel NIS 61.5 billion, Holocaust survivors got about half 01:46 Barak ignores Olmert threat, vows Labor will vote to dissolve Knesset 03:11 Route 66 victims paid with their lives for lack of NIS 9-million lane divider 05:19 Family of 17-year-old suspect defend him; classmates saw 'toy criminal' 06:24 Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel 22:42 Minister Ayalon: Israeli Arabs should have 'cultural independence' Previous Editions Select Day 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun

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