Progress Reported in Israel-Hezbollah Prisoner Exchange Negotiations
Ross Dunn
Jerusalem
26 Sep 2003
Israeli officials say Germany is ready to release an Iranian and a Lebanese prisoner to help Israel secure the return of its missing soldiers. The offer comes as Israel is attempting to conclude a prisoner swap with the militant Islamic group, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says that prisoners held in Europe might be part of an agreement with the Hezbollah. The prisoners are being held in German jails.
Israeli media reported that the prisoners, one Iranian and one Lebanese, were convicted in 1997 for their role in the murder of a Kurdish-Iranian dissident in a Berlin restaurant in September 1992.
German mediators are involved in the negotiations between Israel and the Hezbollah, which is funded by Iran.
Hezbollah has been holding Israeli businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum captive since October 2000.
The militant Lebanese group also has the remains of three Israeli soldiers, killed during a kidnapping operation along the Lebanese border in the same period.
As part of a possible deal with the Hezbollah, Israel is considering releasing two prominent Lebanese prisoners, and setting free hundreds of Palestinian detainees. In return, Israel is demanding Mr. Tannenbuam be released and the bodies of the three soldiers returned.
Israel is also demanding information on the fate of missing Israeli airman Ron Arad, who was shot down over Lebanon in 1986.
Israeli officials say Mr. Arad was held captive in Lebanon for two years, before being handed over to the Iranian government.
On Friday, Israel's High Court ruled that Mr. Arad's family be given a copy of an Israeli government commission report on his disappearance.
The copy, however, is to be censored by the Israeli military to prevent the disclosure of what it says is sensitive information related to the nation's security.
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=C127E1E0-3816-49E6-956F21418027828C Report: Israel may destroy Iran's nukes
TEL AVIA, Israel, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Israel, alarmed by the failure of international community to move against Iran's nuclear weapons program, may do so on its own, says a report.
In a report from Tel Aviv, the Middle East Newsline said senior Israeli government and military officials have been mulling over this possibility.
The report said the clearest warning came on the eve another effort by the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate suspected Iranian violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The suspected violations include the unauthorized enrichment of uranium.
"The fact that a country like Iran, an enemy (of Israel) and which is particularly irresponsible, has equipped itself with non-conventional weapons is worrisome," Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said.
"At the moment there is continuing international diplomatic activity to deal with this threat, and it would be good if it succeeds," Ya'alon added, the report said. "But if that is not the case we would consider our options."
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