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Last update - 22:26 02/07/2008 Hezbollah chief: Prisoner swap to take place within two weeks By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: Hassan nasrallah  The leader of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, Hassan Nasrallah, said on Wednesday the group has agreed to a deal to exchange prisoners with Israel and expects the swap to take place in one to two weeks. "I officially announce that we accept this deal," Nasrallah said, speaking by video link to reporters in Beirut. "We have accepted this agreement and consider it a great accomplishment." The exchange should take place around July 15 or "a little before or a little after," Nasrallah said. "I think in one to two weeks the issue will be completed." Advertisement The deal, approved by Israel on Sunday, would see Hezbollah return captured Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, believed to be dead, for five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of around 200 Lebanese, Palestinian and Arab infiltrators to northern Israel. The capture of Regev and Goldwasser in a cross border raid in July 2006 triggered a 34-day war in Lebanon, with Olmert ruling out talks on their return. In this speech on Wednesday, Nasrallah refused to disclose any information on the soldiers' condition and said that all conclusions reached by Israel were "speculation" only, "not based on anything tangible." The Hezbollah chief said the group would also hand over to UN mediators in a day or two a report on the fate of Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who has been missing since his plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. Arad's trail was lost in 1988 while he was in the hands of Shi'ite militiamen. The Hezbollah chief said his men have been investigating Arad's fate since 2004, and have reached a "firm conclusion" on what had happened to him. Nasrallah has in the past said he believed Arad was dead but did not know the location of his remains. As part of the deal, negotiated by a German intelligence officer, Nasrallah said he would write to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asking him to help secure the release of Palestinians held by Israel, especially women and children. Miki Goldwasser: Nasrallah holding us on short leash The Regev and Goldwasser families carefully followed the news conference yesterday by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, hoping to gain more information on the abducted soldiers' fate and the exact date of their release in the upcoming prisoner exchange. Miki Goldwasser, Udi's mother, said Nasrallah was continuing his psychological warfare against Israel and the captives' families. "He is keeping us on a short leash, but we won't be weak. Still, the fact of his refusal to explicitly say that the boys are not alive leaves us with a sliver of hope that at the end we will see Udi and Eldad on their feet," she said. "The only thing I care about now is for the deal to be carried out as quickly as possible, and I hope it will be in the middle of the month as reported and discussed, and that we can be done with it after two years of nightmare." Karnit Goldwasser, Udi's wife, also followed Nasrallah's press conference closely, but said she preferred not to comment until after the exchange. Related articles: Britain tightens ban on Hezbollah to cover military wing Lebanon: Hezbollah prisoner swap marks 'failure' for Israel Hezbollah trains Shi'ite militias in Iraq on Iran's behalf Former cellmate says Samir Kuntar never meant to kill anyone 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.   1.   I watched Nasrallah 19:26  |  Fahim 02/07/08   2.   Bravo Hisballah 20:04  |  Libnanee 02/07/08   3.   STOP THIS! ARAB TERRORIST MUST ROT IN PRISON FOREVER!!! 20:51  |  Baruch Gold 02/07/08   4.   Sicko Haaretz! Hizbollah are not "activist" They are Terrorist! 20:54  |  Baruch Gold 02/07/08   5.   Baruch Gold 21:24  |  Imad 02/07/08   6.   Imad, Right Said my friend 22:49  |  Ali 02/07/08   7.   I`ll be happy when... 23:43  |  Jack 02/07/08   8.   swap the leaders 23:57  |  origi nally 02/07/08   9.   when nasrallah says something 23:59  |  moody 02/07/08   10.   Having watched a suntanned Nasrallah 00:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/07/08   11.   no self-respecting gov`t would agree to this "swap." 00:56  |  dante 03/07/08   12.   The Columbia or the Israel Way ? 04:27  |  Petras Vilson 03/07/08

Read & React Three dead, dozens hurt in Jerusalem terror attack Responses: 468 UN troops in Lebanon coerced into deleting images of underground cables Responses: 112 Israel's saber-rattling against Iran could backfire Responses: 183 Bradley Burston: Palestinian terrorism as a natural act Responses: 221 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 07:15 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 06:39 Coalition backs IDF widows right to remarry 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 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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