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Israel identifies dead soldiers Israel swaps prisoners for bodies
(about 2 hours later)
The Israeli army has confirmed that human remains handed over by Lebanon's Hezbollah as part of a prisoner swap are those of two of its soldiers. Israel has confirmed that human remains handed over by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as part of a prisoner swap are those of two of its soldiers.
The two men, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, were captured in 2006, but it was not certain they had died. Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were seized in 2006 but until now there had been no confirmation of their deaths.
In return, Israel is handing over five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.In return, Israel is handing over five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
The capture of the two Israeli soldiers sparked a month-long war between Israel and the Shia Islamist militant group.The capture of the two Israeli soldiers sparked a month-long war between Israel and the Shia Islamist militant group.
Israeli generals have reportedly visited both the soldiers' families to inform them personally of the identification. Israeli generals have reportedly visited both the soldiers' families to inform them personally of the identification of the bodies.
Earlier, the soldiers' relatives broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins. Before the swap, it was unclear whether the two soldiers were alive or dead. The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawnEarlier, the soldiers' relatives broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins.
The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawn The Lebanese prisoners were taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Some in Israel had held out hope that they might still be alive, but the images of two plain black coffins being delivered to the border told the soldiers' family what they had long suspected, says the BBC's Wyre Davies on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Earlier, the Lebanese prisoners were taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
The exchange is being mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.The exchange is being mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
'Moral obligation' Red carpet
Lebanon has declared a national holiday to mark the swap, after which Israel will hold no more Hezbollah militants.Lebanon has declared a national holiday to mark the swap, after which Israel will hold no more Hezbollah militants.
PRISONER EXCHANGE From Hezbollah: Two Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006From Israel: Five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Qantar, and the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5211930.stm">Who are the Mid-East prisoners? class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7504194.stm">Germany's success as mediator class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7509368.stm">In pictures: Prisoner exchange The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the exchange will be a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory.
Under the deal - the fruit of two years of delicate German mediation - Hezbollah is also to return the body parts of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006. PRISONER EXCHANGE From Hezbollah: Bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and remains of other Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon in 2006From Israel: Five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Qantar, and remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5211930.stm">Who are the Mid-East prisoners? class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7504194.stm">Germany's success as mediator class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7509368.stm">In pictures: Prisoner exchange
The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to the possibility of exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies. A red carpet ceremony has been prepared in Naqoura, where patriotic songs and excerpts of speeches by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah bellowed from loudspeakers and roads were festooned with celebratory banners and Hezbollah and Lebanese flags.
"Lebanon is shedding tears of joy - Israel is shedding tears of pain," said one banner at the border, where crowds of people waited to welcome home loved ones or receive their remains.
Under the deal - the fruit of two years of delicate German mediation - Hezbollah is also to return the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in south Lebanon in 2006.
The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies.
But Israel says it has a moral obligation to bring its soldiers home.But Israel says it has a moral obligation to bring its soldiers home.
Israel's cabinet gave its final approval for the prisoner exchange on Tuesday.Israel's cabinet gave its final approval for the prisoner exchange on Tuesday.
Qantar controversyQantar controversy
The five Lebanese prisoners being freed include Samir Qantar, in jail since 1979 for a deadly guerrilla raid in which he killed three Israelis, including a child.The five Lebanese prisoners being freed include Samir Qantar, in jail since 1979 for a deadly guerrilla raid in which he killed three Israelis, including a child.
The killings were particularly brutal, making his release controversial in Israel.The killings were particularly brutal, making his release controversial in Israel.
The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the exchange will be a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory. Qantar was serving several life sentences for murder for attacking a civilian apartment block in the Israeli coastal town Nahariya in 1979 along with three other gunmen who landed by dinghy from Lebanon.
The leader of Lebanon's mainly Maronite Christian Free Patriotic Movement and former army commander-in-chief, Michel Aoun, said the swap proved Israel had been defeated. A policeman, and a father and his four-year-old daughter, were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard during the attack.
"I believe today is the crowning glory of the [2006 Israel-Hezbollah] war... There is national unanimity to welcome the prisoners and the martyrs' bodies. Everything calls for optimism and a new revival in Lebanon," he said. Qantar has said he does not remember killing the four-year-old, who was battered to death with a rifle butt after her father was shot.
But Ehud Goldwasser's father, Shlomo Goldwasser, said he was mystified by the Lebanese celebrations. Two of the other gunmen with Qantar were killed. A third was jailed but later freed in a prisoner swap in 1985.
"I cannot understand what the Lebanese are so glad about and happy about," he said. Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants captured the two Israeli soldiers to demand his release.
HAVE YOUR SAYI am deeply saddened by our present inept Israeli government at allowing such a preposterous and blatantly immoral dealGila, JerusalemSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI am deeply saddened by our present inept Israeli government at allowing such a preposterous and blatantly immoral dealGila, JerusalemSend us your comments
Ehud Goldwasser's father, Shlomo Goldwasser, said he was mystified by the Lebanese celebrations, coming after the recent war with Israel.
"I cannot understand what the Lebanese are so glad about and happy about," he said.
"They sacrificed over 700 of their best warriors and all their economy, and what they get for what they did is a murderer, a bloody murderer of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl and her father - and for this they are making all this glory, for this they sacrificed so much. So I feel only pity for them.""They sacrificed over 700 of their best warriors and all their economy, and what they get for what they did is a murderer, a bloody murderer of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl and her father - and for this they are making all this glory, for this they sacrificed so much. So I feel only pity for them."
Qantar was serving several life sentences for murder for attacking a civilian apartment block in Nahariya in 1979. Hezbollah withheld any information about when the soldiers had died and never released pictures of them in captivity, leaving it unclear whether they had been killed in the original raid.
A policeman, another man and his four-year-old daughter were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard during the attack. However, one Hezbollah official quoted by Lebanese TV on Wednesday confirmed that both soldiers had been seriously injured during the raid, and later died of their injuries.
Qantar has denied killing the older child, reports say.
Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants captured the two Israeli soldiers to demand his release.