Israel releases prisoners in Hizbullah exchange
Wednesday, 16 Jul 2008 20:05
Hizbullah supporters present coffins containing bodies of Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev
A prisoner swap between Israel and Hizbullah is underway on the Jewish state's border with Lebanon.
Hizbullah has presented workers from the Red Cross, which is mediating the exchange, with two black coffins carrying the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in the summer of 2006.
Israel has verified the coffins contain the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture began a bloody 34-day conflict between Hizbullah and Israel, and has now handed over five high-profile Lebanese prisoners.
The families of the two captured soldiers broke down in tears when the coffins appeared on the border at Rosh Hanikra; there had been no official confirmation of whether they were alive or dead until today.
Israel is also due to return the bodies of 199 Hizbullah and Palestinian fighters in order for them to be repatriated.
Samir Kuntar - who has been in an Israeli prison since the 1970s – is among five prisoners being returned to Lebanon today.
He was convicted of murdering an Israeli policeman, a civilian and his two daughters following a raid in 1979.
Lebanon has declared a national holiday to welcome Kuntar and the other four prisoners home, while Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to speak at a celebratory event.
In Israel the public perception of the handover has been one of a grim necessity, with the Jewish faith placing great importance on proper burials.