Israel swaps prisoners with Hezbollah

Israel approves prisoner swap deal with Hezbollah
WATCH VIDEO
Source: CCTV.com | 06-30-2008 11:30
Israel's cabinet has approved a prisoner swap deal with the Lebanese movement Hezbollah. Under the deal, the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah two years ago will be returned and five Lebanese militants will also be freed.
Israeli cabinet ministers voted 22-to-3 to approve the deal at the end of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged the cabinet to legalize the proposal to exchange Lebanese prisoners with Israeli reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Their capture two years ago sparked a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Olmert declared the two captives to be dead earlier in the day, the first official confirmation of their deaths.

The Germany-mediated deal will also see Israel free five Lebanese militants, including Samir Kuntar, the longest-held Lebanese prisoner in Israel. He has been serving four life sentences in Israel since 1979.

Yuli Tamir, Education Minister, said, "The decision is to go ahead with the agreement to exchange the soldiers with Samir Qantar that is held in the Israeli prison and a few other prisoners. It wasn't an easy decision, Samir Qantar is a very cruel murderer - he murdered a whole family two little children and a father. Nevertheless, we have the responsibility to bring our soldiers back home."

The families of the two Israeli soldiers voiced their relief after the cabinet approved the deal.

Karnit Goldwasser, Wife of abducted Israeli Ehud Goldwasser, said, "My heart hurts. It's difficult for me. I am very, very tired and exhausted inside. I don't know how to absorb everything."

Bassam Qantar, the brother of Samir Qantar, welcomed the deal and said the release of his brother would take place within days.

Under the agreement, dozens of bodies of slain infiltrators and the remains of 8 Hezbollah members killed in the 2006 war will also be handed over.

Following the implementation of the deal, Israel will also release a number of Palestinian prisoners. But the exact number and their identities have not yet been decided.

Category:

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Tags:

• Israel
• Hezbollah

[doesitreallymatter55]

It's funny how easily you forget why Israel had to invade Lebanon. 2 Israeli soldiers were kidnapped in a cross-boarder raid. Meaning Hizballah came INTO the State of Israel and kidnapped two soldiers. And Hizballah is still in Lebanon. Meaning that even after Israel withdrew, not retreated, the murderous group still remains.

Hassan Nasrallah is a coward, sending other people to do his dirty work. He has been in hiding for over 2 years and only recently made an appearance.

Get your facts right.

[PandemicMadness]

this deal shows wat hezbollah really stands for. in case all u morons here in the west still cant see, hezbollah muslims are animals not worthy to even spit on.

[iLOLED8100]

umm have u forgot wat america and israel did to Palestine and iraq...

[jew2Hitler]

You either handle back innocent fighter you have for your bodies or we kill more israelis... THAT WAS THE RULE OF THE DAY... I want this war to start again.

[jew2Hitler]

with the Lebanese government.... oh sorry 'with the Lebanese movement' hezbollah... ha ha how stupid

[Kobeici]

israel go account all the dead you did in kana go account all the dead you did in palestine, you antisemite

[sibawi15]

sharo

yes he is brave kuntar is brave nd u r not alloed 2 speak about children u baby killers

[Sharon1000000]

First of all IDF never, but never hide stories from his people of something, and when there are mistakes they say that, and something there are mistakes .

I dont know which Interview are you talking about I know the Interview from 4 years ago to Maariv i can send you, In hebrew, Samir said that the girl was innocent and he should find military target and not this family.

I sent you the interview

[lazyride]

thats bulls*t, Samir Kunta did not kill that little girl and her father. They were shot accidently by the IDF. The IDF made this monstrous story up in order to cover their mistakes. That is a FACT.

[Sharon1000000]

Is samir kuntar a hero????

he took 4 years old girl head and break it on the rock...

wow ... so brave...

[kamajiboy]

why do arab muslims rape and enslave black women and children in Sudan?

[abdulbade]

death to the jews, they are the cancer of the human race, i hate them soooooooo much, i even wana kill their babies