Report: Hizbullah Demand Delays Prisoner Swap Deal
A prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah is not expected to take place soon, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported Monday, citing a demand by the Shiite group for the release of Palestinian prisoners as a major stumbling block.
The newspaper said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held several meetings with senior defense officials Sunday during which a number of issues were raised that appear to have delayed Israel”s response to German mediator Gerhard Konrad.
Haaretz quoted sources from Olmert”s office as saying Hizbullah demanded to include the release of Palestinian prisoners in the exchange deal under which Hizbullah would hand over to Israel two soldiers captured in July 2006 in return for Samir Qantar who is serving multiple life sentences for killing four Israelis in a 1979 attack.
The daily said Olmert insisted two months ago that the deal wouldn”t include Palestinians, saying Israel”s "final" offer was the release of Qantar, four Hizbullah fighters captured during the July-August 2006 war as well as remains of "some" militants killed during the conflict.
"However, contrary to what had been previously reported, it appears that Hizbullah has once more revived its demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal," Haaretz said.