The Lebanese Resistance party Hizbullah has rejected an Israeli offer to exchange Lebanese prisoners held in Israel for information on the three Israeli soldiers kidnapped along the northern border in October 2000.
According to the Lebanese newspaper A-Safir, Hizbullah rejected Israel's proposal to free 150 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The men would be released in exchange for information on the fate of the three soldiers, who were abducted on October 7, 2000.
Nothing has been heard of them since and Hizbullah has repeatedly refused to allow Red Cross visits, insisting that any verifiable information would require the release of all Lebanese and Palestinians held by Israel.
Last year, the Israeli army declared the three were presumed dead and their place of burial unknown.
A-Safir reported that Germany continues in its efforts to secure an agreement between Israel and Hizbullah.
Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has recently said his group has come to an agreement in principle with Israel, but differences remain with regards to the number of prisoners to be released in exchange for information.
(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
