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Israel and Hezbollah swap remains Israel and Hezbollah swap remains
(about 1 hour later)
Israel and the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah have exchanged the remains of an Israeli for a prisoner and the bodies of two guerrillas. Israel and the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah have exchanged the remains of an Israeli civilian for a prisoner and the bodies of two Hezbollah guerrillas.
The International Red Cross transported the bodies over the border near the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura.The International Red Cross transported the bodies over the border near the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura.
The identity of the Israeli is unknown, but officials say he was a civilian. Israel's Channel 2 TV identified the Israeli as Gabriel Dwait, who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2005.
Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in July 2006 provoked a 34-day conflict with Israel in which more than 1,250 people, mostly civilians, died. Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in July 2006 provoked a 34-day war in which some 1,250 people died.
Both Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser are still believed to be in captivity, although Israeli officials have raised the possibility that they may not have survived the cross-border raid by Hezbollah. Both Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser are still believed to be in captivity, although officials have raised the possibility that they may not have survived the cross-border raid by Hezbollah.
In a statement after the exchange, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the deal was "in the framework of negotiations to return the captured soldiers".
Negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah are currently being conducted through a UN-appointed German mediator, Ernst Uhrlau.
'Very proud''Very proud'
Lebanese troops kept journalists and civilians away from the border area ahead of the exchange on Monday, but an Israeli military vehicle was seen crossing into the demilitarized zone around sundown and returning shortly afterwards.Lebanese troops kept journalists and civilians away from the border area ahead of the exchange on Monday, but an Israeli military vehicle was seen crossing into the demilitarized zone around sundown and returning shortly afterwards.
Two bodies were earlier exhumed from a cemetery in northern Israel Two Red Cross ambulances also drove into the zone near the Israeli border, apparently to receive the Lebanese prisoner and the remains of the two Hezbollah fighters.
Two Red Cross ambulances also drove into the zone near the Israeli border, apparently to receive the Lebanese prisoner and the two bodies. Israeli journalists were also unable to report the exchange, as the country's military censor imposed a day-long blackout.
Unconfirmed reports say the dead Israeli was an Ethiopian immigrant who drowned in the Mediterranean in 2005 and whose body washed up on the Lebanese coast. Once it was lifted, Israel reported that Hezbollah had handed over the body of Mr Dwait, an immigrant from Ethiopia whose body washed up on the Lebanese coast after he drowned.
One Lebanese official told the Reuters news agency earlier that the man had "died of a cause unrelated to last year's aggression". One Lebanese official earlier told the Reuters news agency that the Israeli man had "died of a cause unrelated to last year's aggression".
The Lebanese prisoner released by Israel has been identified as Naim Aqil, who is reported to be suffering from a mental illness.
The dead Lebanese are said to be Ali Wizwaz and Mohammed Dimashqiya, two Hezbollah fighters who were killed during the 2006 conflict with Israel.The dead Lebanese are said to be Ali Wizwaz and Mohammed Dimashqiya, two Hezbollah fighters who were killed during the 2006 conflict with Israel.
"I'm very proud of my son who gave up his life for his nation," Hussein Wizwaz, the father of one of the two men, said whilst waiting near the border crossing."I'm very proud of my son who gave up his life for his nation," Hussein Wizwaz, the father of one of the two men, said whilst waiting near the border crossing.
The exchange is believed to have been arranged by a UN-appointed mediator. The exchange is believed to have been arranged through the UN.