Hizbullah - Israeli prisoner swap deal signed, to be implemented July 13-16, 2008

Date: 07 / 07 / 2008 Time: 11:40
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

The prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah has been officially signed, reliable Lebanese sources told Ma'an on Monday.

The deal was signed by Ofer Dekel, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's representative for the return of kidnapped soldiers, and Wafiq Saffa from Hizbullah. However, due to logistical obstacles, the execution of the deal has been postponed until Sunday, 13 July 2008, according to the Lebanese sources.

Israeli sources said that Olmert would receive a detailed report about missing Israeli airforce pilot Ron Arad, through the UN-appointed German mediator, Gerhard Konrad. According to a Hizbullah report, Arad ejected from his plane in 1986 and was taken captive by the Amal resistance organization.

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon is also being updated on the progress of the prisoner swap.

However sources close to the UN believe the deal might be completed on July 16, rather than in three phases as had previously been proposed.

Palestinian sources said on Sunday that the prisoner exchange would be conducted in three stages. The first stage will include the release of Samir Al-Quntar along with three other detainees (and the Israeli captive soldiers), the source confirmed.

Stage two will begin six days after the completion of stage one and will see the delivery of the corpses of Dalal Al-Mughrabi and others to their families for burial.

Stage three will be completed a few days later see the release of 199 bodies from Israeli morgues. One hundred and fifty of the corpses are those of Palestinian fighters.

Seven Hizbullah prisoners have been held by Israel and two Israeli soldiers have been in the custody of Hizbullah since the 33-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in 2006. They are expected to be released under the deal along with the bodies of a number of Palestinian and Lebanese fighters killed in operations against Israel.

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