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Convicted Hezbollah spy crosses into Lebanon
ROSH HANIKRA, Israel - A convicted Hezbollah spy returned from Israel to a hero's welcome in Lebanon on Sunday, and Hezbollah turned over the remains of what it said were dead Israeli soldiers, in what could be the first stage of a larger prisoner exchange between the bitter enemies.Israeli authorities released Nasim Nisr, an Israeli of Lebanese descent, early Sunday after he completed a six-year sentence for espionage, driving him from a prison in central Israel to the northern Rosh Hanikra crossing. Cameramen surrounded the white van carrying Nisr as a blue gate swung open to
An Israeli security official said Hezbollah said the return of the remains was a 'gesture that had not been coordinated with Israel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding the ongoing negotiations. Helge Kvam, a Red The box was handed over to Israel's army. Military doctors and rabbis were to examine the remains, which were then to be transferred to a forensic institute, the army said. The army said it has appointed a panel to contact the families of the soldiers whose remains are suspected to be in the box. Israeli media have said Hezbollah was believed to be holding the remains of 10 soldiers already confirmed killed in fighting. Sunday's exchange added to speculation that a major swap is in the works. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah predicted last month that Israel will release prisoners it is holding 'very soon. Nisr was convicted in 2002 of espionage. He admitted in a plea bargain to passing information to a senior Hezbollah officer. His lawyer, Smadar Ben-Natan, said Nisr's relatively light sentence showed he did not pass on any sensitive information. Nisr, 39, was born in Lebanon to a Jewish Lebanese mother and a Shia Muslim father. Because of his Jewish ancestry, he qualified for Israeli citizenship and moved to Israel in 1992. He has a 10-year-old son from a first marriage, and two daughters, ages 10 and 7, from his current wife. Nisr was 'nervous but happy, said Ben-Natan. At the same time, she said Nisr was saddened to leave his wife and children. Nisr asked to be stripped of his citizenship in 2004, hoping he'd be included in a prisoner swap at the time between Hezbollah and Israel. Israel does not release its own citizens in such swaps. Posted by: Steve White 2008-06-02 |
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