Israel-Hizbullah Prisoner-Body Swap Imminent
A prisoner swap between Israel and Hizbullah is imminent, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday, with the Shiite group set to hand over two captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for several militants.
"Barring any last-minute obstacles we expect very soon Israel to return seven to 10 prisoners and the bodies of 10 Hizbullah fighters," the official said on condition of anonymity.
The swap could take place in Germany, he added.
Lebanese media have said that among those who could be released is Samir Qantar, currently serving a life sentence for killing two men and a four-year-old girl in a 1979 attack in northern Israel.
Israel and Hizbullah have been involved in indirect negotiations aimed at securing the release of two Israeli soldiers captured in July 2006 in a deadly cross-border raid that sparked a 34-day war.
Germany is acting as mediator in negotiations between Hizbullah and Israel on a prisoner exchange.
The possibility of an imminent release comes as Israel made new peace overtures to Beirut.
"We favor direct, bilateral negotiations in which all issues of dispute are up for discussion," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert”s spokesman Mark Regev told Agence France Presse in Jerusalem.
The Lebanese government rejected the offer for the second time since last week when Olmert hinted Israel would be interested in direct talks with Beirut.
"Lebanon”s position is known and that there is no cause for bilateral negotiations with Israel," a statement from Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s office said again on Wednesday.