Israel and Hizbullah completed on Monday a deal to exchange the remains of an Israeli civilian for a Lebanese prisoner and the bodies of two fighters. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said the deal was "in the framework of negotiations to return the captured soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser."
An Israeli military vehicle carrying the bodies of the dead Lebanese crossed into the no man's zone along the border at sundown and returning shortly afterward, crossing paths with Lebanese ambulances headed the other way. The statement said that in addition to the body, "Hizbullah gave Israel additional information about another affair, and it will be checked soon."
Israel received the body of an Israeli who drowned nearly three years ago in exchange for the bodies of two Lebanese fighters killed in the war last summer and another Hizbullah captive, who was released for medical reasons, the statement said.
Earlier a Lebanese source said, according to Reuters: "As a goodwill gesture, there will be a swap of a Lebanese prisoner and the bodies of two Hizbullah fighters for the remains of an Israeli who was not a soldier."
About 100 people gathered near the Lebanese army checkpoint where the exchange was to place. Among them was Hussein Wizwaz, in his 60s, who came after hearing from Hizbullah that the body of his son would be returned. Ali Wizwaz, 32, was killed in a border battle with Israeli troops, his father said, according to the AP.
