Israel and Lebanon Swap Prisoners

CHEN:
The International Red Cross is overseeing a prisoner's swap between Israel and a Lebanese guerilla group.

STORY:
Two coffins arrive at the Israeli border. They're thought to contain the bodies of two Israeli soldiers whose capture sparked the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.

Until now the fate of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev hadn't been known. Goldwasser's father was clearly upset.

[Shlomo Goldwasser, Prisoner's Father]:
"It was a very difficult night for us, few of us could not sleep, and a few of us slept for a few hours."

A few hours earlier a group of five Lebanese prisoners were released from Israeli jails.

Among them is Samir Qantar - who was serving life for the 1979 murder of four Israelis - one of them a four-year-old girl.

The exchange follows a deal made by a U.N. official. It also involves Israel handing over the bodies of 200 Arabs killed trying to infiltrate northern Israel.

The exchange has been hailed a triumph by Hezbollah. And Lebanon declared a public holiday to mark the occasion.

Locals in south Lebanon - Hezbollah's strong-hold - were jubilant.

[Mohammed Dharer, Shop Owner]:
"This is victory for all Lebanon and all Arab countries. What we need are more martyrs and prisoners to be returned to their country."

Israelis consider the exchange more a painful necessity. And the Israeli Army says it's a difficult time for all soldiers.

[Avital Leibovitch, Military Spokesperson]:
"This is a very sad day for us as an army, this is a very emotional day for us, the IDF is accompanying the families at this difficult hour."

Tests are now being carrried out to confirm the identity of the returned Israeli soldiers.

They'll then be handed over to their families.

Category:

News & Politics

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• Prisoners
• International
• Red-Cross
• Lebanese-guerilla
• Hezbollah

[MrJdouble1998]

Israel please grow some fucking balls.

[Antizionist4life]

Bravo Hezbollah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gee94506]

fuck israeli terrorists

[lebnen143]

biggest mistake idf did handing this big ass moron murderer samir kuntar fucking filthy asshole killed 14 years odl girl hope he die

[OUWATZAHLE08]

they should behad samir kuntar son of a bitch my israel kill all of the hizbollah hope soon plzease god help israeli

[seamalss]

this is the language Israel understands !!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Boussi92]

and the previous people that commented uz deserve to go helll

[Boussi92]

bloody idiot asian tv ur the only gorilla ok

ASIAN GORILLA GROUP