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Miki Goldwasser, the mother of abducted soldier Ehud Goldwasser. (Ouria Tadmor / Jini)
Last update - 12:33 25/06/2008
Israel's spymasters concluded weeks ago: Troops seized by Hezbollah are dead
By Amos Harel, Yuval Azoulay, Jack Khoury, Barak Ravid and Eli Ashkenazi
Tags: Israel, Ehud Olmert 

Three weeks have passed since Israel's intelligence agencies came to the conclusion that the two soldiers abducted by Hezbollah are dead.

An order by Olmert this week to have seized reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev formally declared as killed in action, has lent weight to allegations by sources involved in the indirect negotiations with Hezbollah that the move is aimed at foiling a prospective prisoner swap.

The two reservists were captured by Hezbollah guerillas in July 2006, an incident which sparked the month-long Second Lebanon War.
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Officials said as recently as last week that a prisoner exchange was close to conclusion, and suggested that a swap with Hezbollah could take place soon.

But security sources revealed Tuesday that Israel's intelligence agencies on June 3 submitted their conclusions that the two soldiers are dead.

Two days ago, Olmert ordered the military's chief rabbi, Brigadier General Avihai Ronsky, to find out whether Goldwasser and Regev could formally be declared killed in action, fallen soldiers whose place of burial was unknown. The process involves assessment of intelligence information and rulings of Jewish law.

Olmert's order came almost three weeks after that conclusion was reached by the panel of chiefs of intelligence services, Military Intelligence, the Mossad, and the Shin Bet. Sources said each service conducted an independent examination, which led to a collective conclusion.

It remains unclear why the decision was delayed. However, the span of time appears to lend credence to suspicions that the goal of the move to declare the soldiers dead is to scuttle the deal, as sources involved in the negotiations have charged.

Security sources said no unequivocal intelligence information was acquired over the last several months that supported their findings, which were primarily based on existing information.

Meanwhile, Goldwasser's wife, who met with Olmert on Wednesday, said the prime minister has promised her toask the Cabinet on Sunday to approve a prisoner swap with Hezbollah.

"The deal, as [Olmert] promised me, will be brought for a vote on Sunday," Karnit Goldwasser told Israel's Channel 10 television, after the meeting. "I very much hope the ministers ... will make the decision to bring Udi and Eldad home."

There was no immediate comment from the government.

Barak: We'll bring the soldiers home, even if they are dead

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that Israeli attempts to bring back the soldiers would not cease, even if they were declared dead.

"We have a responsibility to bring the abducted soldiers home even they're dead. The process [to declare them dead], even if it comes to fruition, isn't supposed to in any way stop the talks on the deal to bring them home," Barak said during a visit to Moshav Netiv Ha'asara in the western Negev.

The soldiers' families lashed out against the move and demanded that Olmert quickly bring the deal to a cabinet vote.

Over the past few days, after an agreement with Hezbollah seemed close, a delay ensued for reasons not fully known. But on Monday it became clear that it was Olmert who was holding back and that a process was beginning to declare the two soldiers dead.

Defense officials said that even if Ronsky determines that Goldwasser and Regev are dead, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi will still support the prisoner swap as an obligation to the families and a relatively "cheap" deal for Israel because there is no obligation to release Palestinian prisoners.

Miki Goldwasser, the mother of Ehud Goldwasser, said: "Why now, when the deal is done and there's nothing better, is somebody is trying to torpedo it, and Olmert for his own reasons, political or otherwise, isn't in a hurry to approve it?"

Benny Regev, Eldad's brother, said: "Unfortunately it looks like the deal isn't going to happen. It's no secret that at the base of this deal is the claim that their [the soldiers'] being alive is not certain. Still, we think most of the ministers would have supported it."

Karnit Goldwasser, Ehud Goldwasser's wife, said: "We had to beg the ministers to support the deal. At the end of the day we got a call that the file is with the military rabbi. This is a humiliating day for Israel."

Deal apparently held up by bid for Kuntar release

Olmert is said to be delaying the deal because of objections by Mossad head Meir Dagan and Shin Ben security service head Yuval Diskin to an agreement that would see the release of Lebanese prisoner Samir Kuntar, who is serving multiple prison terms for the 1979 murders of four Israelis, without knowing what Israel will hear in return on the fate of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad.

Kuntar remained in Israel's hands as a bargaining chip after the release of Elhanan Tennenbaum in 2004. An arrangement seemed to be in the making recently for Hezbollah to deliver a detailed report on Arad. Israel now wants to know the nature of that report, and on Diskin and Dagan's recommendation, Olmert wants to hold back the deal until this point is clarified.

In exchange for the report, Israel will reportedly give Hezbollah information on the fate of four Lebanese diplomats who disappeared in Lebanon in 1982, and were apparently murdered by Christian Phalangists.

Another issue that has resurfaced over the past few days involves Palestinian prisoners. Although no official word has reached the media, prisoners negotiator Ofer Dekel told the Goldwasser and Regev families last week that Israel is expected to agree to release a few dozen Palestinian prisoners of its choosing, to be presented as a gesture to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, represented by German negotiator Gerhard Konrad.

However, sources close to the deal said Monday that this issue was not a major hindrance to the deal, and that the main issue was over the information about Arad. The sources said it was likely that Olmert would delay approval of the deal and prevent it coming up for debate in the cabinet.

"This is very serious," Ehud Goldwasser's father Shlomo said. "It means Olmert's playing his cards close to his chest and not sharing information with the ministers."

Olmert is traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two leaders will discuss the renewal of mediation efforts by Egypt on a deal with Hamas to free captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Related articles:
  • Families of soldiers snatched by Hezbollah: 'We've waited long enough'
  • Hezbollah wants Palestinians included in prisoner swap
  • Most ministers back Hezbollah prisoner swap
  • PMO: Prisoner exchange with Hezbollah not likely next week
  • Mother of missing soldier: Hezbollah will kidnap again if Kuntar not returned
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      1.   They can`t violate the agreement 09:16  |  Ivan 23/06/08
      2.   Dagan and Diskin are right 09:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/06/08
      3.   Losing the war 09:19  |  Imad 23/06/08
      4.   Isreal prefers not to buy a "pig in a poke" 09:23  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08
      5.   NO TO HESBOLLAH 09:27  |  Siem 23/06/08
      6.   Dead, in the noble cause of Olmert`s ego 09:34  |  Clickfool 23/06/08
      7.   Conclusion: Hezbollah murdured the captured prisoners? 09:39  |  Joe Sittizen 23/06/08
      8.   What does this tell other IDF men? 09:42  |  Clickfool 23/06/08
      9.   Ivan Hez alway keep their part of the deal Israel did not 09:57  |  gus 23/06/08
      10.   It should be obvious that they are dead 09:58  |  .. 23/06/08
      11.   demand contrary to Israel`s national security 10:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/06/08
      12.   Hezbullah never lies: another myth dead at our feet 10:16  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 23/06/08
      13.   long live lebanon 10:31  |  peter 23/06/08
      14.   #8, fool, what does it tell anyone 10:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/06/08
      15.   I agree with both Cipora and Natallie! With Olmert too!!! 10:49  |  S 23/06/08
      16.   #4, Durson, for once you are right 10:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/06/08
      17.   #10, peter, very well put 10:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/06/08
      18.   IMAD Gus. Of course you won! Arabs have never lost a war or 11:03  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      19.   Margie #11 11:07  |  Guido 23/06/08
      20.   CJK #16 (for once you are right) 11:10  |  Guido 23/06/08
      21.   #4 Natallie Durson 11:21  |  Taso 23/06/08
      22.   For Cipora # 14 11:22  |  Clickfool 23/06/08
      23.   GUS.Here is what Nasrallah says about peace! Who you kidding? 11:30  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      24.   You`re a ridiculous person, Cipora # 11 11:32  |  Clickfool 23/06/08
      25.   MY heart goes out to Mrs Goldwasser.Lebs. will not even say if 11:42  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      26.   N.Durson(#4) teaches Cipora good lesson 11:46  |  John Syracuse 23/06/08
      27.   Care to hazard a guess as to the identity of those Pal prisoners? 12:08  |  Johnboy 23/06/08
      28.   A PAINFUL DECISION 12:09  |  Jay A Friedman 23/06/08
      29.   Imad #3 - Keep living in your fantasy ... 12:18  |  Rafi 23/06/08
      30.   We should not wait but beat the Hezbullah to the ground now. 12:22  |  Jean Van Daem 23/06/08
      31.   #29, keep ignoring the fact that we kicked your butt 13:09  |  Ali 23/06/08
      32.   JOHNBOY No need to guess they get visitorsUnlike the way your lot 13:12  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      33.   I agree with Cipora #2and Natallie #4! (second try) 13:39  |  S 23/06/08
      34.   ALKI LAST Israelis left Lebanon AFTER you dishonestly 1701 13:43  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      35.   Ali our butts are too high to reach, you tickled our ankles 14:25  |  x-ray 23/06/08
      36.   Ali ....Do you smile as much when Hezbollah 14:34  |  Lynn 23/06/08
      37.   #3 Ali - Take an example from a foot ball match 15:07  |  Rafi 23/06/08
      38.   Clickfool #24 you are infinitely more ridiculous than Cipora! 15:28  |  S 23/06/08
      39.   Ali: you have me worried as you people are so smart 15:35  |  Ilan 23/06/08
      40.   Durson finally arrives at obvious conclusion 16:05  |  Joe Sittizen 23/06/08
      41.   #31 Ali ... darn tootin you kicked butt 16:09  |  Joe Sittizen 23/06/08
      42.   Hizblownazis are wimps with propaganda 16:26  |  ankhfnkhonsu 23/06/08
      43.   Hizblownazis are wimps with propaganda 16:26  |  ankhfnkhonsu 23/06/08
      44.   Imad #3 and Gus 16:27  |  utagawa 23/06/08
      45.   Pot calling the kettle black (again) 16:30  |  truejew 23/06/08
      46.   #32 No need to guess, PETER SM? 16:38  |  Johnboy 23/06/08
      47.   No Release for Mad-dog Kuntar! 17:00  |  utagawa 23/06/08
      48.   JOHNBOY there is NO censorship on who is in Israel 17:21  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
      49.   Clickfool - If the soliders are dead, Nasrallah will get 1000 17:28  |  x 23/06/08
      50.   To Ali #31 17:38  |  Yusef 23/06/08
      51.   Once stupid, always stupid 17:39  |  Hadi 23/06/08
      52.   The stone age-Rafi 17:54  |  Hadi 23/06/08
      53.   For "x" # 49 18:05  |  Clickfool 23/06/08
      54.   Hadi # 52 you did not read the book!! 20:00  |  Abu Halil 23/06/08
      55.   to Nathalie no 4/ for once 20:10  |  Tina 23/06/08
      56.   Palestinians not a Hezbollah issue, Palestinians for Palestinians 20:17  |  J 23/06/08
      57.   Dear Mr Fool 20:28  |  James 23/06/08
      58.   Um, Hadi, Just remember what Nasrallah told you. 20:31  |  Joe Sittizen 23/06/08
      59.   to Rafi and his football match 21:07  |  Ali 23/06/08
      60.   Sadness for the families BUT 21:24  |  guy 23/06/08
      61.   to hadi,#53 21:27  |  Igor D. 23/06/08
      62.   #51 Everybody in world know that you are 21:31  |  Ulf 23/06/08
      63.   They have been dead for two years now 21:45  |  Adrian de Klerk 23/06/08
      64.   They Are Dead, Nothing To Negotiate 21:45  |  Nicholas 23/06/08
      65.   Imad 21:52  |  Alex 23/06/08
      66.   Ali 21:55  |  Alex 23/06/08