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| Israel approves prisoner exchange | Israel approves prisoner exchange |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israel's cabinet has approved a prisoner swap with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. | Israel's cabinet has approved a prisoner swap with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. |
| The swap would see the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah two years ago. | The swap would see the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah two years ago. |
| The Lebanese prisoners to be freed reportedly include Samir Qantar, in jail for murder since 1979. | |
| Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier that the two soldiers were dead. Their capture triggered Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in mid-2006. | Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier that the two soldiers were dead. Their capture triggered Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in mid-2006. |
| The cabinet approved the German-brokered exchange by 22 votes out of 25 present at the meeting, Israeli radio reported. | The cabinet approved the German-brokered exchange by 22 votes out of 25 present at the meeting, Israeli radio reported. |
| Controversial exchange | Controversial exchange |
| Before the vote, Mr Olmert had urged his cabinet to approve the swap, even though he said the two soldiers were probably dead. | Before the vote, Mr Olmert had urged his cabinet to approve the swap, even though he said the two soldiers were probably dead. |
| "We know what happened to them," Mr Olmert was quoted telling his cabinet by the Associated Press. | "We know what happened to them," Mr Olmert was quoted telling his cabinet by the Associated Press. |
| He said they had probably been killed during the raid or shortly after. Evidence from the scene of their capture indicated that at least one of them was badly wounded. | He said they had probably been killed during the raid or shortly after. Evidence from the scene of their capture indicated that at least one of them was badly wounded. |
| "There is no doubt that today's discussion has special weight and is exceptionally sensitive in terms of its national and moral implications," Mr Olmert said before cabinet convened. | "There is no doubt that today's discussion has special weight and is exceptionally sensitive in terms of its national and moral implications," Mr Olmert said before cabinet convened. |
| Israel fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006 | Israel fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006 |
| Observers say it is the first time the Israeli government has confirmed that Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev are no longer alive. | Observers say it is the first time the Israeli government has confirmed that Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev are no longer alive. |
| Critics have opposed swapping prisoners for the bodies of dead Israeli troops. | Critics have opposed swapping prisoners for the bodies of dead Israeli troops. |
| In exchange for the soldiers, it is reported that five Lebanese detainees are to be set free and the bodies of about 10 militants handed over. | |
| One of these is said to be Samir Qantar, who has been in jail since 1979 for his part in a deadly border raid. | |
| His release would be controversial in Israel because of his role in the deaths of three members of one family, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem. | His release would be controversial in Israel because of his role in the deaths of three members of one family, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem. |
| Hezbollah has given no public indication that the two Israeli soldiers are still alive. | Hezbollah has given no public indication that the two Israeli soldiers are still alive. |
| The Red Cross has never been allowed to see them and many in Israel assume they are dead. | The Red Cross has never been allowed to see them and many in Israel assume they are dead. |
| Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war after the soldiers were seized by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid into Israel in July 2006. | Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war after the soldiers were seized by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid into Israel in July 2006. |
| Germany has been trying to broker a prisoner exchange since the war ended. | Germany has been trying to broker a prisoner exchange since the war ended. |
| On 1 June, Hezbollah handed over the remains of five Israeli soldiers killed in the war. | On 1 June, Hezbollah handed over the remains of five Israeli soldiers killed in the war. |
| The remains were delivered after Israel released a Lebanese-born man who had served six years in prison for spying for Hezbollah. | The remains were delivered after Israel released a Lebanese-born man who had served six years in prison for spying for Hezbollah. |
| Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. | Another Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, remains a prisoner of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. |
| He was seized in a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. | He was seized in a raid on an Israeli army position on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said it would consider releasing him as part of a prisoner exchange. |