Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 04, 2008 Tamuz 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:55 (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

Captured IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev (Archives) Last update - 21:49 03/07/2008 Source: Hezbollah swap to take place next week By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hezbollah, Israel  The prisoner exchange between Israel the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah is likely to be carried out within a week, a defense official told Haaretz on Thursday. Israel's negotiator in charge of prisoner exchanges, Ofer Dekel, is currently in Europe meeting with UN-appointed German mediator, Gerhard Konrad. He is expected to return to Israel later Thursday. This was the first time Konrad and Dekel have met to discuss the report Hezbollah is planning to submit to the UN regarding the fate of Ron Arad, the Israeli Air Force navigator who has been missing since his plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. Advertisement During their talks, Dekel and Konrad will set the terms for the implementation of the swap deal. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a video-linked Beirut press conference Wednesday that the prisoner swap would take place on or around July 15. He also said the written report Hezbollah will submit to the German mediator on Arad contains "a definite conclusion based on ... witness accounts [gathered] on the ground." He described the effort made in investigating Arad's fate as unprecedented, but he did not give details. 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. Regarding the welfare of abducted Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, Nasrallah said that "so far Hezbollah has not handed over any information about the fate of the two soldiers. Anything said in Israel is mere speculation. We have provided no information." The deal, approved by Israel on Sunday, would see Hezbollah return captured soldiers Regev and Goldwasser, believed to be dead, for five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of around 200 Lebanese, Palestinian and Arab infiltrators to northern Israel. Prosecution: Delay trial of captured Hezbollah men in light of swap Meanwhile, the Northern District Prosecution on Thursday asked the Nazareth District Court to postpone submitting its conclusions in the trials of three Hezbollah man captured during the Second Lebanon War, in light of the imminent prisoner swap set to take place between Israel the Lebanon-based militant group. The three suspects, Maher Kurani, Mohammed Sarur and Hussein Suleiman were indicted in Israel on charges of illegal militancy. Attorney Mirit Shtern, who heads the district prosecutions criminal branch, said: "Naturally, as the prisoner swap seems to be materializing, it seems the suspects will return to Lebanon," she wrote in her appeal to the Nazareth District Court. Defense Attorney Smadar Ben Natan responded to the prosecution's request by saying from the beginning of the trial it was clear that the suspects were war hostages, whose fate was to be determined under the guidelines of a prisoner swap and not through judicial proceedings. "The trial conducted against them was a political trial for publicity purposes. We are glad our clients are going to return to their country at the same time Israeli hostages are returned," Ben Natan told Haaretz. The three suspects were captured by Israeli troops in early August, 2006, during the Second Lebanon War. They were charged attempted murder, attempted abduction, and planning to commit a crime, over their involvement in Hezbollah's efforts to kidnap Israeli soldiers. They were also charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, providing service for illegal union, illegal militia training and weapons possession. Suleiman was also charged with murder and abduction, for his involvement in the July 12, 2006 cross-border attack, the incident which sparked the Second Lebanon War. Related articles: Nasrallah: Our report contains firm conclusion on Ron Arad's fate Hamas: Kuntar deal sets precedent for release of Palestinian terrorists Bookmark to del.icio.us   Against his release Mother of Kuntar victim appeals to President Peres against his release. Gloom and doom How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war?   1.   Dealing with terrorists 19:21  |  Ralph 03/07/08   2.   Good, I have a proposal on a deal for Gilad Shalit 19:21  |  MOE 03/07/08   3.   I`LL STAY ON THE SITE FOR THRITY MINUTES SO I CAN READ ABOUT THE 19:25  |  glenna 03/07/08   4.   expect a surprise... 19:35  |  bashar 03/07/08   5.   Ralph 19:46  |  Imad 03/07/08   6.   to no 4 a surpise!!!! 20:13  |  Tina 03/07/08   7.   #6 tina, glass half full 21:07  |  bashar 03/07/08   8.   tInA 21:09  |  Imad 03/07/08   9.   Israel will be the laughing stock 21:10  |  Helm of Chelm 03/07/08   10.   illegal militancy.?! 21:26  |  gawain 03/07/08   11.   Out of curiosity 21:29  |  Ariel 03/07/08   12.   bashar 4 22:22  |  ChanahS 03/07/08   13.   Moe 23:35  |  Jane 03/07/08   14.   hostages 00:02  |  JG 04/07/08   15.   Imad 00:27  |  rich 04/07/08   16.   kuntar`s release 03:57  |  shula 04/07/08   17.   to Shula I pray you soldiers are alive but hate will not help 04:24  |  gus 04/07/08   18.   Tina Hez does not tourture, Israel does 04:30  |  gus 04/07/08

Read & React Shot and bleeding, Jerusalem terrorist kept going to kill baby's mother Responses: 205 ANALYSIS / Terrorist or petty criminal run amok? Responses: 144 Ari Shavit: Strike on Iran is good for Israel and U.S. in long run Responses: 113 Olmert: Demolish terrorist's home, revoke family's social benefits Responses: 146 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort Responses: 82 Rosner's Domain On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless Back to Vietnam Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Why did the US go to war in Iraq? (WTR) Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews More Headlines 03:43 Mazuz: Demolition of terrorists' homes is permitted by law 03:44 Police fear wave of violence against Arabs in wake of Jerusalem terror attack 21:49 Source: Hezbollah swap to take place next week 21:20 Olmert: Direct Israel-Syria peace talks needed 'very soon' 20:16 Mother of Kuntar victim: This monster will be a Lebanon hero 04:12 Steven Spielberg donates $1M to Pennsylvania Jewish history museum 04:17 On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless 04:09 How to save gasoline and work in comfort 19:13 Qassam hits Negev, sixth since start of Gaza truce 22:00 Actor Hanan Goldblatt convicted of rape, sexual assault 20:48 For first time, Israeli rabbi to attend Saudi-sponsored interfaith meet 21:12 Ramat Gan police chase, arrest 12 illegal Palestinian workers 12:18 How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war? 19:09 Hitler wax figure unveiled in Berlin amid criticism Previous Editions Select Day 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun

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