Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 25, 2008 Sivan 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 13:43 24/06/2008 Families of soldiers snatched by Hezbollah: 'We've waited long enough' By Jack Khoury Tags: eldad regev, ehud goldwasser  The families of the Israel Defense Forces soldiers who are being held captive in Lebanon on Monday demanded that the prime minister and defense minister bring a deal for their sons' release to the cabinet's approval this week. "We've waited long enough. Now that the deal has been drafted and the ministers support it, there is no reason to keep delaying the decision," a representative of the families said. IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped by Hezbollah guerillas in a 2006 raid that sparked the Second Lebanon War. Advertisement The families have met with ministers over the past few days to persuade them to vote for the deal releasing the abducted soldiers; the deal was drafted by Hezbollah and Ofer Dekel, the prime minister's representative in the negotiations. The families said that while the ministers supported the deal, most were unfamiliar with the details. "This is very grave. It means the prime minister is not sharing the information with the ministers," Shlomo Goldwasser, the father of one of the abducted soldiers, said. "Apparently he does not intend to bring the matter to the vote as soon as possible." Goldwasser said that sources familiar with the negotiations told them the deal, brokered by United Nations mediator Gerhard Konrad, had not been altered. Therefore the reports that new demands were holding it up were inexplicable, he said. More than two thirds of the Israeli public believes that the government is not doing enough to release Gilad Shalit, according to a poll initiated by the campaign to release the kidnapped soldiers. The poll, conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute, is based on a representative sample of the Jewish population. More than 50 percent of 570 Israelis interviewed believe Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is primarily responsible for the failure to release Shalit. Two thirds of the public believe Israel is not maintaining its commitments to IDF soldiers who are sent to fight its war. "The poll states unequivocally that the nation is more courageous and resolved than its leaders and that the state has completely failed to handle Gilad Shalit's return," said campaign coordinator Miki Leibowitz. "This is a wake-up call to the prime minister to make brave decisions and end this tragedy," he said. The poll also finds that 80 percent of the public agrees that any agreement with Hamas must be conditioned on Shalit's release and 55 percent supports releasing Palestinian prisoners with blood on their hands in exchange for Shalit, while 36 percent objected. Related articles: IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah killed in action Court rejects Shalit petition Labor MKs vote in favor of backing bill to dissolve Knesset Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gilad's tale VIDEO: U.S. kids read abducted soldier's story of co-existence. Leaving Torah behind Study finds religion is not very important to American Jews.   1.   Look at the other side of the coin 06:13  |  Jared 24/06/08   2.   Shalit, yes. Goldwasser and Regev are dead. 07:30  |  Akiva P 24/06/08   3.   Jared looks at the other side of Stillwater, OK 08:23  |  Joe Sittizen 24/06/08   4.   JARED Does Hesballa speak for Pal. murderers or their own? 09:26  |  PETER SM 24/06/08   5.   End of the Story 11:02  |  Hadi 24/06/08   6.   Samir Kuntar 11:19  |  Hadi 24/06/08   7.   Peter SM-Occupation 11:41  |  Hadi 24/06/08   8.   #6 You wouldn`t insult this way in Syria media... 12:46  |  Ulf 24/06/08   9.   Hizbollah Inspired War should not have ended till IDF heroes home 13:18  |  Baruch Gold 24/06/08   10.   Joe, I have a proposal... 15:28  |  Samer 24/06/08   11.   Hadi (assuming this isn`t a troll) 15:51  |  marbpl 24/06/08   12.   HADI Arab "resistance" was already documented by a pogrom in 1830 16:06  |  PETER SM 24/06/08   13.   #12 What is progrom 1830? 17:02  |  Ulf 24/06/08   14.   Responses:)) 17:07  |  Hadi 24/06/08   15.   Hadi... 02:07  |  Josh 25/06/08   16.   #14 Hezbollah & Syrian freedom... 10:24  |  Ulf 25/06/08

Read & React Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce Responses: 109 Rosner's Guest: Israel was wrong on Hezbollah war, wrong on Gaza restraint Responses: 34 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two Responses: 62 Olmert: Top priority is to bring home seized troops Responses: 20 Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us Responses: 26 Rosner's Domain Guest: Not going to war in Gaza - erroneous choice One out of five Israelis wants out (WTR) Religion is not very important to American Jews Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? More Headlines 18:11 'Israel's top priority is to bring home seized troops' 18:06 Olmert: Opposition rejects coalition's agenda of peace 15:22 Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us 14:27 Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce 18:18 Jerusalem welcomes flashy new addition to city of ancient relics 16:56 Tajikistan's Jews despair as only synagogue razed 15:53 Ex-Likud MK Omri Sharon completes prison sentence 14:24 'Attack on Paris Jewish teen may be linked to ongoing gang feud' 13:55 Ben Gurion Airport stages mass aviation disaster drill 17:21 Olmert's bureau denies asking to delay declaration on fate of seized troops 15:36 Egypt finds seven smuggling tunnels, arms cache near Gaza border 08:46 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two Previous Editions Select Day 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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

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