Israel's deputy defense minister, Ephraim Sneh, dismissed Sunday reports of an imminent prisoner swap with the Lebanese Hizbollah movement as misinformation, The Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted him as saying.
Hizbollah captured three Israeli soldiers in October.
The Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal newspaper quoted a Hizbollah official as saying that Israel was "anxious" to secure a deal before Tuesday's election, in order to recover the three soldiers.
"This is all psychological warfare. They are experts at it," Sneh said.
"Don't be drawn in by all these reports from Lebanon from elements whose main intention is to foul up our position and hurt the families of the kidnapped soldiers, and bring us to a weak state in negotiations," Sneh told the Post.
On January 28th, Hizbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah said that there could be an exchange of prisoners with Israel before the Israeli elections on February 6.
"A special effort is being taken and there are attempts to reach some sort of outcome before the elections," Nasrallah said at that time.
Sneh added, meanwhile, that the negotiations for the release of the kidnapped Israelis should not be linked in any way to tomorrow's election.
Sneh said mediators were constantly working on forging a deal to receive any information possible on the three soldiers' condition, but have not yet received any.
In response to the swap reports, Haaretz newspaper quoted a statement by Ehud Barak's office as saying Sunday that "the Prime Minister and the entire security establishment were trying constantly and through various channels to bring about the return of the hostages as speedily as possible."
The statement said the families of the prisoners, whose feelings at such a difficult period could not be argued with, also understand that publicizing details of the current situation and the efforts being made could harm the overall aim of securing the release and return of the kidnap victims.
In his remarks, meanwhile, Nasrallah reiterated his promise that any eventual prisoners exchange would not include only Lebanese, but also Palestinians and other Arabs, along with Iranians held by Israel.
Among the prisoners Hizbollah wants released are Islamist leaders, Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, and Mustapha Dirani -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
