Israel ready to swap 2 Lebanese prisoners for IDF soldiers

This is so senseless. Why all that death and destruction when you should have just did that from the get go? Just to murder some arabs?

Israel ready to swap 2 Lebanese prisoners for IDF soldiers

By Aluf Benn and Shlomo Shamir

Israel will release two Lebanese prisoners in return for the two soldiers abducted by Hezbollah, as part of a cease-fire agreement, government and defense officials said on Monday.

The sources added that the UN Security Council would call for a cease-fire in Lebanon on Friday, and it could take effect as early as Saturday.

Alternatively, the fighting might continue for a few more days.


Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told British Prime Minister Tony Blair that as soon as an international force deploys along the Israel-Lebanon and Lebanon-Syria borders, "it will be possible to implement a cease-fire."

Immediately after soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were captured, Olmert said that Israel would not negotiate a prisoner exchange for their release  a position he also took following the abduction of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit in the Gaza Strip. Olmert's position received international support in the concluding statement issued by the G-8 summit, which called for the unconditional return of all Israeli captives.

However, with the fighting still ongoing, government and military sources said recently that Israel would find it difficult to insist on this position in negotiating a cease-fire.

The sources said that Israel would apparently agree to release Abu Amra Mamad, convicted of weapons possession, plus one illegal alien. It will not agree to release Palestinians. A government source added that Israel would also refuse to release Samir Kuntar, who murdered the Haran family and a police officer in Nahariya in 1979. In the last prisoner exchange with Hezbollah, the "Tennenbaum deal" of January 2004, it was agreed that Kuntar would be released only in exchange for information about missing airman Ron Arad

Source

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
Just to murder some arabs?

Indeed, that just must've been the only possible explanation.

IF the yehudis are ready for an exchange now, it could be that they've accomplished enough of their objective to make it worthwhile to start talking.

If the lebanese didn't want to die in the first place, they could've just not taken those soldiers.

edit to add:
they're doing it as part of a cease-fire, what would you rather they do, not have a cease-fire? I mean, they shouldn't stop the war, because they went to war?

[edit on 31-7-2006 by Nygdan]

This is just the "olive branch" before the ground invasion.

It's designed to be rejected and thus legitimize (for the purposes of history) the next step in escalation.
.

[edit on 7/31/2006 by Gools]

Originally posted by Nygdan

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
Just to murder some arabs?

Indeed, that just must've been the only possible explanation.

IF the yehudis are ready for an exchange now, it could be that they've accomplished enough of their objective to make it worthwhile to start talking.

If the lebanese didn't want to die in the first place, they could've just not taken those soldiers.

edit to add:
they're doing it as part of a cease-fire, what would you rather they do, not have a cease-fire? I mean, they shouldn't stop the war, because they went to war?

[edit on 31-7-2006 by Nygdan]

I thought it was hezbollah that captured the soldiers, not lebanon.

But i do agree, the only reason Israel would negotiate now is becasue they have achieved their goals in some form.

No so much that they achieve their goals but the only way that they can step out and don't lose face is Now Israel can claim that they did what they were up to do and hezbollah can claim that they still have some hold of the situtation. . .

Yes the whole issue was about two soldiers but what people forgot was that before the first assault hezbollah wanted to negotiate for the released in a change for people that Israel is holding in their jails.

What can I said the propaganda makes the reasons for the conflict already fuzzy. . .

Originally posted by Nygdan
If the lebanese didn't want to die in the first place, they could've just not taken those soldiers.

edit to add:
they're doing it as part of a cease-fire, what would you rather they do, not have a cease-fire? I mean, they shouldn't stop the war, because they went to war?

The Lebanese didn't take anyone. It was Hizbollah that took them. The Women and Children that died had nothing to do with the capture.


No there shouldn't have been an attack from the very beginning. Its just ridiculous since they themselves do it just as much as the other groups. They should have just sat down and dealt with them from the beginning. They lost soldiers , and even a naval vessel. Just silly.

Originally posted by Gools
It's designed to be rejected and thus legitimize (for the purposes of history) the next step in escalation.
[edit on 7/31/2006 by Gools]

Exactly, they need to continue to appear as if they are TRYING to end this before it gets too out of hand.

In 10 years time no one will remember the constant media reports of missles, rockets and rah rah rah, all they will remember is that israel stated from begining all they needed to do was release the prisoners, they refused, the too lobbed missles for a few weeks, many people were killed then it got out of hand.

But at the same time, I think they are moving to show that Hezbollah, Iran & Syria do not want an end to this either. Which is why, hezbollah I believe will REJECT this proposal.

Neither side is willing to stand down, neither side is willing to push the button. Its like they are waiting for each other to make a collosal mistake, or for some out side influence to spark the pile of gunpowder that has been set.