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Last update - 14:45 01/07/2008 Lebanon: Hezbollah prisoner swap marks 'failure' for Israel By Reuters Tags: hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon  The Lebanese government said on Tuesday a prisoner swap deal reached between Israel and Hezbollah marked a "big failure" for Israel, which had earlier refused to agree to such a plan. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert secured cabinet approval on Sunday for a prisoner swap with Hezbollah under which two soldiers held by the guerrilla group, believed to be dead, would be recovered. The capture of army reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev in a cross border raid in July 2006 triggered a 34-day war in Lebanon, with Olmert ruling out talks on their return. He later relented, negotiating through a UN-appointed mediator. Advertisement The pending prisoner exchange deal is to be carried out in two phases, the Kuwaiti news agency has quoted Lebanese officials as saying. An Israeli official has said the first phase could begin as early as in the coming days. "The release of the prisoners through a German mediator, after this long time and according to the conditions published in the media, marks a big failure, and a very big failure of Israel's policy which refused, before the July 2006 war, to seal a complete exchange deal," a Lebanese government statement said. "Then it returned and launched a war against Lebanon and its people with the excuse of demanding the prisoners, and then it returned and submitted in the end to the logic of negotiating through mediators, in order for the deal to succeed. "This deal ... is a new and clear condemnation for Israel, its tactics and its policies." In exchange for the soldiers, Israel would release five Lebanese gunmen and at a later stage an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. Dozens of bodies of slain infiltrators and the remains of eight Hezbollah men killed in the 2006 war would also be handed over. The deal is expected to take place within a few days. In parallel to the Hezbollah deal, Israel has said it is interested in opening peace talks with Lebanon, a move the Lebanese government has rebuffed. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has often said Lebanon would be the last Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Related articles: Lebanon sources: Kuntar to be freed at start of Hezbollah swap Despite Hezbollah report, the Ron Arad story is not over Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror in the capital A Palestinian rammed his bulldozer into a bus in Jerusalem, killing three. Poetic injustice Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish blends sarcasm and hope in his latest work.

Read & React Three dead, dozens hurt in Jerusalem terror attack Responses: 460 UN troops in Lebanon coerced into deleting images of underground cables Responses: 107 Israel's saber-rattling against Iran could backfire Responses: 174 Bradley Burston: Palestinian terrorism as a natural act Responses: 208 Rosner's Domain / Why do Arabs prefer Hamas over Fatah? Responses: 74 Rosner's Domain The rules have changed! Klein still alive! (WTR) Why do Arabs support Hamas over Fatah? New poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Israel's image still under renovation The possibility of an Israeli air strike on Iran (WTR) More Headlines 03:53 Two teachers among the dead in Jerusalem attack 04:05 Jerusalem syndrome 03:59 Locals say 'There's no such thing as a lull here' 04:59 Nasrallah: Our report contains firm conclusion on Ron Arad's fate 04:26 Canny politician / Nasrallah closes a deal 04:59 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort 05:50 Golan teenager apparently used father's gun to kill himself 19:48 U.S. army chief: Israeli strike on Iran would destabilize Mideast 05:18 Gaydamak loses top business manager after just 6 months 00:16 Palestinian poet: History laughs at both victim and aggressor 11:38 Will the real Zohan please stand up? Previous Editions Select Day 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun

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