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Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap imminent
BEIRUT - A prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah is imminent, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday, with the Shiite group set to hand over two captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for several militants. 'Barring any last-minute obstacles we expect very soon Israel to return seven to 10 prisoners and the bodies of 10 Hezbollah fighters,' the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.He said the swap could take place in Germany, which has been acting as mediator between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Damascus and Tehran, have also held indirect talks aimed at securing the release of two Israeli soldiers captured in July 2006 in a deadly cross-border raid that sparked the 34-day war. Hezbollah has refused to disclose whether the two soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, are alive or dead. Both were believed to be seriously wounded in the July 12 raid by Hezbollah guerrillas. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's special envoy for negotiations on the soldiers, Ofer Dekel, on Wednesday met their families 'to brief them on the latest developments in the talks,' a senior official said. Another senior Israeli official involved in the talks said however that the prisoner swap 'will not take place in the coming days.' Posted by: Steve White 2008-06-19 |
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