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December 15, 2000/Kislev 18, 5761, Vol. 53, No.12
Prisoner negotiations begin with HezbollahJewish Telegraphic AgencyJERUSALEM - An Israeli official has confirmed that contacts are under way to secure the release of three Israeli soldiers and an Israeli businessman held by Hezbollah in Lebanon, but said no breakthrough had been made.Israel is "attempting through a number of channels to bring the captives home," Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Army Radio on Dec. 11. "I am sorry to say there has yet to be a breakthrough." Sneh was commenting on various reports, mostly from Lebanon, of progress in negotiations with the Shi'ite guerrilla group Hezbollah that could lead to an exchange of the Israelis for 19 Arabs held by Israel. Both a Hezbollah official and Israeli President Moshe Katsav were quoted over the weekend as saying Germany has been mediating the efforts. Reports Dec. 11 said the exchange could take place by the end of the month. According to the reports, initial progress was made during talks that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held in Lebanon in October. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami left Dec. 11 for France, where he reportedly was to discuss the prisoner exchange issue with his German counterpart. Hezbollah abducted the three in a cross-border attack in the disputed Shabaa Farms area in early October. Shortly after, Hezbollah kidnapped an Israeli businessman, Elhanan Tannenbaum, who also serves as a colonel in the reserves. JTA correspondent Sharon Samber in Washington contributed to this story. |
