On the release of the five Lebanese Hizbullah members
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 12/28/1999

Israeli Finance Minister Avraham Shochat has stated that the decision taken to free five members of the Hizbullah Party came in light of resuming peace talks with Syria.

Shochat added in an interview with Israeli television that there is an atmosphere of talks and an attempt to reach a peace agreement, saying that the release of the five Lebanese is "undoubtedly the bird which announces the fall of spring."

Meanwhile, Israeli sources commented on the release of the five Lebanese by Israel on Sunday, saying that the release came following a new evaluation of conditions following the resumption of negotiations with Syria, taking into account the possibility of resuming negotiations with Lebanon.

Israel Radio quoted these sources as saying that this new initiative can also be viewed as being in the course of relations between Israel and Hizbullah because as a result of this "release," Israel may get information about the fate of Israeli Pilot Ron Arad.

Israel Radio added that Israel had asked Syria to take steps to build confidence through Israel receiving information about Arad and the missing soldiers as well as transferring the remains of Eli Cohen (an Israeli spy who was assassinated in Damascus in 1965).

The radio added that Israel is waiting for an answer from Syria to these demands during the coming round of negotiations to be held in the US next week.

Previous Stories:
  Israel frees Lebanese, Palestinian prisoners   (12/27/1999)
  Israel continues besieging Lebanese town   (11/30/1999)
  March in Beirut against detention of teachers in Israeli- supported Khiam detention center   (11/9/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search