2008-06-02

Israel: “Once Again, Nasrallah Proves His Credibility”

Israel: “Once Again, Nasrallah Proves His Credibility”
Hanan Awarekeh Readers Number : 565

02/06/2008 The Israeli Media seemed confused Monday; a day after Lebanese detainee Nassim Nisr in Israeli jails since 6 years was released Sunday morning from the Nitzan (Ramle) Prison in Ramallah, in the framework of a swap deal between Hezbollah and Israel, especially after Hezbollah handed the ICRC some body parts of Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli daily Ynet quoted Lebanese papers as saying that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah proved his credibility once again and embarrassed the political and military echelon in Israel, concluding what they defined as another step in the detainee swap deal ahead of a larger move.

"Hezbollah proved it was right when it claimed that it had the body parts of Israeli soldiers," an anonymous "security source" told As-Safir newspaper.

Israeli military analyst Yoav Limor said that there is something that gives the impression "that what took place was part of a larger deal or a prelude to it. Hezbollah stresses Samir Kintar will return soon to Lebanon and the Israeli side does not oppose releasing him in return for the captured soldiers, whether dead or alive."

Meanwhile Monday, the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute continued to run DNA tests on the Israeli body parts handed over by Hezbollah Sunday.

The Israeli occupation army confirmed recently that 20 of the war's fatalities were not buried intact. According to Israeli media outlets, the DNA test process could go on for weeks.

Another Israeli military analyst, Alon Ben David, said that "Nasrallah had said six months ago that he has the body parts of Israeli soldiers and today he gave them back in return for the release of Nassim Nisr."

Israeli daily Haaretz claimed that the swap deal was not true. It quoted al-Manar website as saying "Nassim Nisr was freed in exchange for the body parts of Israeli soldiers," adding that the swap was the first stage of negotiations.

Haaretz claimed that in making such a statement, Hezbollah is trying to undermine the Israeli position that it does not negotiate for body parts; the Israeli explanations that Nisr was due to be released anyway for legal reasons are not self-evident in Lebanon.

The families of the two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in 2006 expressed hope that what took place Sunday would indicate progress in the extensive swap deal that would follow and called on Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to work on setting these two soldiers free.

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