Peres: Kidnapped soldiers alive and well

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 08/15/2006 | By ASSOCIATED PRESS

[garbageseeker]

Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Wednesday that "to the best of my information," the two IDF soldiers abducted by Hizbullah "are alive and they are healthy."

Peres, who was holding talks with US officials, also disclosed that planes from Arab countries had been permitted during the war to fly over Israel on their way to Lebanon to deliver food and medicine.

He declined to provide any details, such as which countries had overflights and how many flights were permitted by Israel.

"Most of the Arab countries had double-feelings," Peres said. "They didn't want Hizbullah to win."

On Lebanese civilian casualties, Peres said Israel had made a 100 percent effort to avoid hurting Lebanese civilians. He said Hizbullah, in violation of international law, "used human shelters to hide their arms."

Despite his optimism regarding the kidnapped soldiers, the deputy prime minister was dubious as to whether US civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson could succeed as an intermediary between Israel and Syria to arrange an exchange of prisoners with Hizbullah.

"You need two parts that want peace; unfortunately there is only one," he said.

Peres, who met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday, said, "Americans believe the battle now is over the future of Lebanon - an Iranian Lebanon or a Lebanese Lebanon. They believe, like us, Lebanon must not be handed to Hizbullah."

Peres said Hizbullah gets $100 million (€78.1 million) a year from Iran as well as training from Iranians on Lebanese territory.

[garbageseeker]

Keep praying for the safe return to the IDF soldiers to their families.

[Moose4]

The problem, Mr. Peres, is not that the soldiers aren't alive and well, it's that THEY AREN'T ALIVE AND WELL BACK IN ISRAEL. And thanks to you and your gutless weasel friends in the Israeli government (with a generous hat tip to France and the United Weasels--er, Nations), they may never see Israel again.

}:-)4

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

Israel kind of threw these guys under the bus with the ceasefire.

[Borges]

Peres turns 83 today.

[BigFinn]

So why aren't they home, Mr. Olmert?

[fortheDeclaration]

The problem, Mr. Peres, is not that the soldiers aren't alive and well, it's that THEY AREN'T ALIVE AND WELL BACK IN ISRAEL.

Exactly!

Imagine a U.S. President going to war and not getting back its prisoners and still claiming victory!

[BigFinn]

So why aren't they home, Mr. Olmert?

[garbageseeker]

The soldiers (taken by both Hamas and Hezbollah) should have been part of the cease fire agreement

[Safetgiver]

As Madelaine Albright said to Bill Clinton " Seventeen sailors are'nt worth going to war over, or losing your Nobel Peace Prize."

[garbageseeker]

Madelaine Albright was the worst Secretary of State in the history of the United States. She coddled more dictators than anyone in U.S. history.

[tobyhill]

Israel should give them 48 hours from the time the Lebanese military get in the south to return the soldiers unconditionally or the cease-fire is off. Lebanon is supporting the Hezbos but it's totally amazing that no one in the world sees it.

[jiggyboy]

"to the best of my information" might mean "Nasrallah said so".

[Spirited]

Aren't you forgetting that the USA has already been there and done that? It is a blot on our name.

[jackv]

"Peres said Hizbullah gets $100 million (€78.1 million) a year from Iran as well as training from Iranians on Lebanese territory."

Well according to Rush, Hezbollah is doing a bang up job rebuilding the place too.. Heck, before you know it they'll be receiving a nobel peace award!!!

I'm being sarcastic but sadly I could actually see it happen with this sorry bunch of UN anti-semites.

[garbageseeker]

Heck, before you know it they'll be receiving a nobel peace award!!! I'm being sarcastic but sadly I could actually see it happen with this sorry bunch of UN anti-semites

The Nobel Peace prize committee gave that murderer Yasser Arafat a award. I agree with you.

[fortheDeclaration]

Aren't you forgetting that the USA has already been there and done that? It is a blot on our name.

Are you speaking of Vietnam?

[garbageseeker]

There is that there is still indications that he is alive. I have a personal message for you regarding this. So keep an eye on your mail.

[SunkenCiv]

Peres said Hizbullah gets $100 million (€78.1 million) a year from Iran as well as training from Iranians on Lebanese territory.

I just read that it's more like $250 million a year.