Hizbullah - Israeli prisoner swap deal signed
Date: 07 / 07 / 2008 Time: 11:40
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=30370

Bethlehem - Ma'an - The prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah
has been officially signed, reliable Lebanese sources told Ma'an on Monday.

The deal was signed by Ofer Dekel, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's
representative for the return of kidnapped soldiers, and Wafiq Saffa from
Hizbullah. However, due to logistical obstacles, the execution of the deal
has been postponed until Sunday, 13 July 2008, according to the Lebanese
sources.

Israeli sources said that Olmert would receive a detailed report about
missing Israeli airforce pilot Ron Arad, through the UN-appointed German
mediator, Gerhard Konrad. According to a Hizbullah report, Arad ejected from
his plane in 1986 and was taken captive by the Shi'ite militant group Amal.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is also being updated on the progress of
the prisoner swap.

However sources close to the UN believe the deal might be completed on July
16, rather than in three phases as had previously been proposed.

Palestinian sources said on Sunday that the prisoner exchange would be
conducted in three stages. The first stage will include the release of Samir
Al-Quntar along with three other detainees, the source confirmed.

Stage two will begin six days after the completion of stage one and will see
the delivery of the corpses of Dalal Al-Mughrabi and others to their
families for burial.

Stage three will be completed a few days later see the release of 199 bodies
from Israeli morgues. One hundred and fifty of the corpses are those of
Palestinian fighters.

Seven Hizbullah prisoners have been held by Israel and two Israeli soldiers
have been in the custody of Hizbullah since the 33-day war between Israel
and Hizbullah in 2006. They are expected to be released under the deal along
with the bodies of a number of Palestinian and Lebanese fighters killed in
operations against Israel.