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Israel/Hezbollah prisoner swap planned for Wednesday

Article published on the 2008-07-15 Latest update 2008-07-16 06:52 TU

A UN vehicle passes an arch set up by Hezbollah supporters(Photo: Reuters)

A UN vehicle passes an arch set up by Hezbollah supporters
(Photo: Reuters)

The Israeli cabinet approved a prisoner swap with Hezbollah, clearing the way for a United Nations-brokered handover on Wednesday. Israel will hand over five Hezbollah prisoners and the remains of 200 Lebanese and Palestinians, in return for what might be the remains of two soldiers who were captured in a raid in 2006, which sparked a month-long war with Lebanon.

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The fate of the two Israeli soliders, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, has not been determined, though Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he presumes they are dead. Hezbollah has refused provide any information.

"Our basic assumption has been that they were kidnapped alive. If they return in coffins it would mean they were killed. Those who killed them must pay with their lives,” Shlomo Goldwasser, Ehud Goldwasser’s father, told AFP. "Come what may we are simply happy that the affair will be over."

Hezbollah is preparing a celebration for the returned prisoners, lining the highway connecting Lebanon with Israel with celebratory banners.

In Israel the deal is controversial particularly because one of the Hezbollah prisoners to be released is Samir Kantar, who was convicted of murder for killing a man, his daughter and a police officer in 1979.

Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and the Shin Beth internal security service say the exchange sets a bad precedent. But despite the opposition, the Israeli government is set to go ahead.

"We have a moral obligation to bring Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev home," said defence minister Ehud Barak on Monday.

Israel’s Supreme Court must hear three petitions against the exchange, and President Shimon Peres must formally pardon the five Lebanese prisoners.

Peres will likely sign the pardons Tuesday night, according to his spokesperson, Ayelet Frish.

The swap will be the eighth between Israel and Hezbollah since 1991.