Hezbollah deputy chief: Prisoner swap talks with Israel 'serious'
Kassem: Captive soldiers will only be released in exchange for all Lebanese prisoners held in Israel.
By The Associated Press and Haaretz ServiceHezbollah's deputy leader said Sunday that the negotiations mediated by the United Nations to secure a prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel are "serious."
"[The negotiations are] proceeding in a serious manner, but so far there have been no results," Sheik Naim Kassem said. The statement was significant as Hezbollah officials rarely broach the topic of negotiations with Israel.
Kassem also stressed that Israel Defense Forces soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture by Hezbollah on July 12 triggered a 34-day war between Israel and the guerilla group, would be released only in exchange for the release of all Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, including Samir Kuntar.
Kuntar is serving a 542-year prison sentence in Israel for the 1979 murder of an Israeli man and his daughter in the northern town of Nahariya. He is one of four men whose release Hezbollah demands.
On the same day the two soldiers were captured, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah told a news conference that they would be released only through a prisoner exchange with Israel. A UN cease-fire resolution that ended the war on August 14 called for the unconditional release of the two soldiers.
"The negotiations are serious and when they reach any result, it will be announced, because we have agreed not to announce details of the negotiations to secure their success and safeguard them from political and media blackmail," Kassem said.
Israel had initially rejected calls for a prisoner swap to secure the soldiers' freedom, calling instead for their unconditional release. It later accepted UN mediation in the case. A special UN envoy dispatched last September by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been mediating between Hezbollah and Israel on a possible prisoner swap.
Hezbollah has not released any details on the conditions of the two soldiers or provided any sign they are still alive since their capture.
Kassem hoped indirect negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah would end quickly and more positively, stressing that all Lebanese prisoners must be freed in any deal. "We are committed to this principle regardless of the patience and sacrifices we endure. We are confident that Israel will eventually comply," he said.
Kassem was speaking at a Hezbollah rally in a mosque in Beirut's war-devastated southern suburbs to mark the 28th anniversary of Samir Kuntar's imprisonment in Israel.
"There can be no solution to the prisoner issue except by means of an equal exchange that will release our prisoners, including Samir Kuntar," Kassem said, drawing cheers from the crowd that included Kuntar's mother and family members. Hezbollah chief, Hasan Nasrallah said in 2004 that media influence was the reason Kuntar was not released in the prisoner deal between the two sides that year.
Israel says it will not release Kuntar until it receives information about Ron Arad, an air force navigator who went missing after his plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. His fate is unknown.
There have been prisoner swaps between Israel and Hezbollah in the past. In 2004, hundreds of Palestinian and other Arab prisoners were released in exchange for the return of businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers.
During his visit to Lebanon last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expressed disappointment that there had been no progress toward the release of Goldwasser and Regev.
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Kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser, left, and Eldad Regev. |
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Uneven exchanges lead to more kidnappings that's why they can't be permitted. Exchanging thousands for a handful only encourages the kidnappers to use the very same tactics each and every time. Meanwhile, nobody has seen hide nor hair of the Israeli's that were kidnapped, nobody knows if they're dead or alive, no photos, no visits by neutral observers. It's tantamount to paying for a pig in a poke. Sure, I'd want my child released, however, the chances of him being kidnapped again would be greatly increased by kowtowing to the kidnappers.
..."A WEAK GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO LOSE..." You missed the point, buddy. They are serious because they have nothing to lose anymore, because they have already lost everything (the war, the corruption, the slips of the tongue, the scandalous acts of this and that). Probably, that secret and serious negotiations would produce SOMETHING they need to boost their popularity. Imagine if those soldiers will be freed from their captivity. Calm down, brother.
Arabs can flaunt any human rights or any UNSCR resolution without the so called humanitarians getting all sanctimonious. They are very selective the sanctimonious Arabs can do no wrong brigade
This is a continuation of the emotional runaround they give Israel. Until we know that the POW's are alive; until they allow the Red Cross to see them and report; until then, this is all psychological warfare. The United Nations is useless and complicit - Eldad Reged, and Ehud Goldwasser were supposed to be released as a condition for the ceasefire, and that didn't happen.
Read the article Ben in 2004 hundreds of palestinians and other Arab prisoners were released in exchange for the return of a businessman and three dead soldiers,other conflicts around the world have similar swaps. Chill out Ben and let those who are negotiating do their job for the safe release of the prisoners on both sides, i wonder if your attitude would be different if it was your son or daughter being held captive.
"Israel has no other choices: LOST THE WAR, A WEAK GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO LOSE and IRANIAN FACTOR has a GREAT IMPACT on every political calculation in TEL AVIV." I beg to differ, if Israel had nothing to lose the formula for this entire political turmoil would be very different. Israel has a lot to lose. And that's why the negotiations are serious. Adding to that, for all those saying kill Nasrallah and his ilk. Do you actually think that this would make the "problem" go away!! You've been killing Pal. militants and "terrorists" for 59 years. Did anything change?! You killed the former head of Hezbollah, did anything change? they even came out stronger with Nasrallah. Maybe its time you change the way you sort out your troubles. Killing people is not always a guaranteed way to make a problem go away. In your case...it never is.
and it will be like that for ever. Counting the dead's and comforting parents will at the end put in the minds of all the Middle East the absolute necessity of a constructive and eternal peace. The fallen should be remember and reminded more often. It is better to built schools, houses and factories then cemeteries and war memorials. Dr. D.
a prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel are "serious." I believe him, because all indication tend to confirm that statement. Israel has no other choices: LOST THE WAR, A WEAK GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO LOSE and IRANIAN FACTOR has a GREAT IMPACT on every political calculation in TEL AVIV.
I've said this before; just imagine a month after the U.S. attacked Iraq it still found itself 3 kms from Kuwait, suffering heavy casualties and forced to go to the French(!!) for a face saving diplomatic bailout. It would do no good to talk about all the bombs America dropped, bridges destroyed or Iraqi civilians killed. But keep saying Israel won, if you want. So long as you keep your hands off Lebanon (which you never managed to do before Hizbollah) I don't really care. Best Wishes
Prisoner exchange? of cours. Two for Two, that's an exchange. Anything more would be extortion. One condition, prisoners with blood on their hands aren't to be included.
1. Vik, Israel tried that option, failed both in Gaza and Lebanon. 116 young IDF boys are dead becuase of your stubborn headed thinking, YOU WANT MORE BLOOD?! not to mention 400 children. 2. Sherman, you will never see or hear from those two solderis again if that happens, then what do you do, bomb? Go ahead, how many more will die. Stubborn thick headed crap! 3. Absolute Sweden and Ralph, dont you think Israel hasnt already thought of killing Nasrallah? or Kassem? hmm ya habibi? But As thick headed as IDF strategists are these days they're not that stupid. 5. Citizen, i take it you will be on the front lines? If not, better be quiet and leave those IDF soldiers to enjoy their lives. and to all, i refer you to post #9 from maoriboy. P.S when one walks into a wall, one's brain tells one to change course, in the cases of many on this forum, they want to keep waling into that GODFORSAKEN WALL! The wall is called WAR. Shalom Aleichem/Salam Aleikum
THe families of these two soldiers should publicly say "Show us proof that these boys are alive - because if all you have is bones then we aren't going to pressure our government to give you anything". Face it Israel, there was a recent worldwide survey that showed that Israel is the most hated country. The best revenge against your enemies is to Live and Prosper - don't show weakness and don't give up dozens of Terrorists for 2 dead bodies; if you do, you will look like weak idiots. The United States needs Strong Friends, if Israel shows itslef to be a weak, stupid friend who lets terrorists free in exchange for bags of bones then we will dump you faster than you can imagine. Be Strong! Remember Entebbe!
repeat 100 times... Israel lost the war... Israel lost the war.. if that makes you feel strong enough to make peace. Egyptians have been repeating the same about Yom Kippur War, and it allowed them to make peace with Israel. As long as you leave us in peace, fine with me... Israel lost the war... Shalom, Jewboy
Israel did not win the war, but it didn't lose either. Hizbollah has been pushed back from Israel's border all the way past the Litani river. That was a huge success. And now there are over 10,000 UN troops in southern Lebanon, which was something Hizbollah did not want and cannot stand. (Not that UN troops are effective, but they're nonetheless an irritant to Nasrallah.) Furthermore, Nasrallah has very little freedom of movement. He has made just a handful of public appearances since the war and is moved to a new hideout each night. He himself has no idea where his next safe house will be. All that said, I think Olmert and Perez should resign. If only Sharon would miraculously wake up from his coma and come back to lead Israel!!!
If they release Kuntar, this goverment has no credibility. They would have released Eichmann if they had the chance.
bro, point for point, Israel lost the war...this is recognized as fact everywhere outside of the US media, including the Israeli media itself. israel had better make peace with its neighbors, or face the tremors of the turning waves...on that note we say peace!
Hezbollah demanding more than a 1 to 1 ratio of exchange for soldiers only makes it more rational and strategic for Israel to assassinate militants instead of capturing them and holding them. A dead militant is better than a live one in a prisoner cell that will be used by Hezbollah or Hamas as a negotiating asset. From now on, Israel is better off targeting and killing the militants than keeping them alive. Then there is no one to negotiate an exchange against.
Your point of emphasizing the unconditional release of the captive Israeli prisoners,should also include what followed on the next line which was, "Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at urgently settling the issue of the Lebonese prisoners detained in Israel. Now you can draw your own conclusions at what Hezbollah wants from the U.N.resolution 1701.
We should start Lebanon War III, with fierce bombardments as in the last war, giving them all the power of our IAF. Let the Nazirallah clown repeat his speechless speech, "if I only would have known... blabla!"
mean biz.
The UN clearly has no legitimacy in the world, its resolutions are accepted (for global image) and rarely enforced. Terrorist groups use the UN umbrella numerous times in history... the Lebanon war II is a nice example of Hezbollah using the UN to stop Israel from turning the country into a hole. The war was started for those prisoners.. if they do not comply with the resolution, a new war should be started- begin the game of rebuilding Lebanon on monthly basis (their petro-dollars will run out sooner or later)
Obviously the term doesn't exist in their language because they have not abided by this clause in the Resolution and are in violation.
Beasts like Kuntar should never go free.
piece by piece every day until Goldwasser and Regev are freed.
Hezbollah wants an "Equal Exchange", fair enough, two of their prisoners for two of ours. Anything more is extortion and disproportionate. First let's determine if the IDF prioners are still alive and healthy, nobody has seen hide nor hair of them since the war ended. Rest uneasy, Hezbollah will keep changing their demands, it's the way they do things.
you have 2 terrorists groups who are sponsered by their respective govts hold israel soliders captive after cross into israel proper. both committed acts of war and israel has yet to truely respond to these actions. pick either hamas or hez and pound the hell out of them and make sure that the other guys know the same is waiting for them.