Report: Israel, Hezbollah to hold prisoner exchange in 3 weeks

Last update - 09:48 27/08/2006

Report: Israel, Hezbollah to hold prisoner exchange in 3 weeks

By Haaretz Service

The Egyptian state-run daily Al-Ahram reports that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to terms on a prisoner exchange for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, Israel Radio reported on Sunday.

According to the report, senior Egyptian officials have told the paper that the exchange is to take place in two to three weeks' time, and is mediated by Germany.

The sources said that the parties are currently negotiating the framework of the deal, and that the main points of contention are the prisoners' order of release as well as the number and identity of the Lebanese prisoners Israel is to release.

The sources told Al-Ahram that it has not yet been agreed whether Goldwasser and Regev would be released first, and a day or two later Israel would release Lebanese prisoners according to a list provided by Hezbollah, or whether the exchange is to take place concurrently.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/755225.html

...OMFG!

This is the reason Hiz'bullah captured Goldwasser and Regev in the first place. Israel could have simply done the prisoner exchange six weeks ago and avoided collective punishment of hundreds of Lebanese civilians and the destruction of billions of dollars worth of Lebanese infrastructure. If this report is true, Israel now finds itself doing EXACTLY what Hiz'bullah intended before the war, but only after being humiliated in southern Lebanon, showing the world that it won't hesitate to embrace war crimes, and undermining much of the good will that remained for Israel throughout the world. Hiz'bullah is arguably strengthened, or at least is well regarded as the force that's willing to fight against an Israeli invasion.

Why the F**K didn't Israel simply do the prisoner exchange back in July?

His "failed policies" of past prisoner exchange with Hezbollah has only emboldened the terra-ists :eyes:

so Israels doesn't do something stupid.

with his wife and family, his four cats, and his dog.

Olmert should have gone for a prisoner swap instead of doing a Bush job in Lebanon!

:shrug:

the very week he was kidnapped.

Israel's reservists got the same raw deal as our National Guard and Reserves.

what? Which group of clowns thought the people of Lebanon were going to blame their neighbors when the IDF killed their family members?

The Hezzbollah captured two Israelis and the IDF then destroyed half the country. Its' the same logic that says invading Iraq is a response to Saudi terrorists. Probably get the same results in the long run.

Apparently, it did not work.

Much wailing and gnashing of teeth must be performed by the political dramatists of all sides before any prisoners will walk free. Such an opportunity for political posturing and dissembling will not be allowed to pass unexploited.