Hezbollah: Soldiers for Palestinians

Lebanon’s Hezbollah is demanding the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails in exchange for two Israeli soldiers detained by the movement.

Israel, however, says it would release Lebanese prisoners in return for its soldiers and not Palestinian prisoners.

The new Hezbollah demand was relayed to Israel via German negotiators, who mediate between the Hezbollah and the Israeli officials.

The two Israeli soldiers were captured in July 2006 in the 33-Day War between Israel and Hezbollah, in which Israel suffered grave losses.

Recently, Lebanon has rejected calls by Israel to negotiate a peace deal, saying Israel must first vacate all the lands occupied in the 1967 6-Day War and seek a solution to the Palestinians’ refugee problem.

On Sunday afternoon, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and his security cabinet, including heads of the war and information ministries, convened in al-Quds, to discuss Hezbollah’s new demand.

FTP/MMN

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Israeli troops kill 2 Palestinian fighters

Israeli troops have killed two Palestinian fighters in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials and the Israeli military say.

The Israeli military says troops opened fire on a group of armed Palestinians, who approached the soldiers near a major crossing.

Local Palestinian media reports said the two were killed as they tried to reach what they described as an army “post” in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern strip.

The fatalities belong to the armed wing of the Fatah movement and to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

MSH/MMN

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Israel releases Lebanese prisoner

Lebanese prisoner Nassim Nasser imprisoned by the Zionist regime for six years has been released from the Nitzan Prison in Ramallah.

Nasser was to be accompanied by immigration police officers to the Rosh Hanikra crossing point, where he was to be returned to Lebanon.

He was detained by Israeli troops in 2002 on charges of spying for the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

The movement is expecting the release of five other Lebanese prisoners detained during Israel’s 33-day war against Lebanon in 2006. Israel had previously announced it would only release them in exchange for two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah.

MSH/BGH

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Israel Uneased by Suleiman Position in Resistance

The smiles, handshakes and congratulations that followed the election of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman Sunday were unable to erase questions and fears in Israel over Hezbollah’s stature and role in the next stage.  
According to Haaretz, Hezbollah could have celebrated twice Sunday – once to mark eight years since the Israel army withdrew from Lebanon, and a second time over having enhanced its stature and role in Lebanon. The daily listed what it said were Hezbollah’s recent achievements: The guaranteeing one third of ministers in the next government, the endorsement of the 1960 electoral law and consolidating the legitimacy of Hezbollah’s arms. “And without the agreement of the Lebanese government, any international attempt to disarm Hezbollah will be seen as illegitimate,” Haaretz said.  
 
“Hezbollah has won and Suleiman thanked Hezbollah because no of this could have happened if the recent events did not happen. Suleiman also praised the resistance that is consolidating its role in Lebanon. This was a tremendous victory to Hezbollah who made everybody celebrate its Resistance and Liberation Day,” Tsvika Yehezkeli, an ‘Israeli’ specialist in Arab affairs, said.
 
Haaretz also said that the Israeli cabinet will meet on Wednesday to discuss developments in Lebanon as well as the growing force of Hezbollah.
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