Israel hopes to exchange prisoners with Hizbullah shortly
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 8/27/2003

An Israeli security source said that Israel hopes to reach an agreement to exchange prisoners with the Lebanese Hizbullah Party within months after returning back the remains of two of Hizbullah fighters on Monday.

The source said that there is an area for optimism to restore back three Israeli soldiers and one reserve army officer held by the Hizbullah party since year 2000. The source explained that Israel will get information about these prisoners for handing over the remains on Monday.

Worthy mentioning that Hizbullah has held four Israelis since October 2000. Three soldiers were arrested in Shebaa farms area at the Lebanese- Syrian, Israeli borders. Israel expressed conviction that they were killed, the fourth is an Israeli army intelligence officer, according to Hizbullah, while Tel Aviv said he is a businessman.

However, the Israeli government described returning back the remains of the Hizbullah fighters as a good intention initiative in the negotiations concerning the file of prisoners.

Israeli foreign minister Shalom Silvan said that Israel had taken a building confidence steps so as to reach the optimum result.

However, Israeli security sources said that the decision to hand over the remains of Hizbullah fighters came after the party had permitted the German mediator to visit one of the Israeli prisoners held by it earlier this week.

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud calls for peace based on 'land for peace' formula   (8/26/2003)
  Progress in prisoners file between Hizbullah and Israel   (8/25/2003)
  Nasrullah: Israel rejected a proposal for exchanging prisoners   (11/23/2002)

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