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Israel prisoners 'may be swapped' | Israel prisoners 'may be swapped' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lebanon's Hezbollah movement may be close to reaching a deal with Israel on the release of two Israeli soldiers, the father of one soldier has said. | Lebanon's Hezbollah movement may be close to reaching a deal with Israel on the release of two Israeli soldiers, the father of one soldier has said. |
Zvi Regev said he had been told by an Israeli negotiator that an announcement would be made soon. | Zvi Regev said he had been told by an Israeli negotiator that an announcement would be made soon. |
Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were captured by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid into Israel in July 2006 that sparked war in Lebanon. | Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were captured by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid into Israel in July 2006 that sparked war in Lebanon. |
Lebanese media have said the two could be swapped for Israeli-held prisoners. | Lebanese media have said the two could be swapped for Israeli-held prisoners. |
Israeli remains returned | Israeli remains returned |
Mr Regev said there was no proof, however, that his son and Mr Goldwasser were still alive. | |
"We know Eldad and Ehud were wounded at the time they were captured," Mr Regev told Israeli radio. | "We know Eldad and Ehud were wounded at the time they were captured," Mr Regev told Israeli radio. |
"We are preparing for the worst but remain hopeful they are alive." | "We are preparing for the worst but remain hopeful they are alive." |
He said that Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel had told him earlier in May that there would be an announcement about an exchange of the prisoners or their remains. | He said that Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel had told him earlier in May that there would be an announcement about an exchange of the prisoners or their remains. |
Israel has signalled that it would be willing to release Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the two soldiers. | Israel has signalled that it would be willing to release Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the two soldiers. |
One of these prisoners is Samir Qantar, serving several life sentences for murder after attacking a block of flats in Nahariya in 1979, Lebanese media have reported. | One of these prisoners is Samir Qantar, serving several life sentences for murder after attacking a block of flats in Nahariya in 1979, Lebanese media have reported. |
Mr Qantar's lawyer told Israeli Army Radio that "all the signs and indications are that a deal is coming together," but that he had not heard anything official. | Mr Qantar's lawyer told Israeli Army Radio that "all the signs and indications are that a deal is coming together," but that he had not heard anything official. |
On 1 June, Hezbollah handed over the remains of five Israeli soldiers killed in the war. | On 1 June, Hezbollah handed over the remains of five Israeli soldiers killed in the war. |
The remains were delivered after Israel released a Lebanese-born man who had served six years in prison for spying for Hezbollah. | The remains were delivered after Israel released a Lebanese-born man who had served six years in prison for spying for Hezbollah. |
Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. | Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. |
He was seized in a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. | He was seized in a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. |
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