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Israel swaps prisoners for bodies Israel swaps prisoners for bodies
(about 3 hours later)
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.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.
Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were seized in 2006 but until now there had been no confirmation of their deaths.Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were seized in 2006 but until now there had been no confirmation of their deaths.
Israel has handed over five Lebanese prisoners and is releasing the remains of 200 Lebanese and other fighters. Their capture sparked a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The capture of the two Israeli soldiers sparked a month-long war between Israel and the Shia Islamist militant group. Israel has handed over five Lebanese prisoners, including a man convicted of killing three people, and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
Hezbollah shows the coffins containing the bodies of the Israeli soldiersHezbollah shows the coffins containing the bodies of the Israeli soldiers
Israeli generals have reportedly visited both the soldiers' families to inform them personally of the identification of the bodies. The two Israeli soldiers are due to be given military funerals on Thursday.
Earlier, the soldiers' relatives broke down in tears as they saw the images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins. Israeli generals informed their families of their deaths personally, following their identification by Israeli forensic experts.
The Lebanese prisoners crossed into Lebanon after being taken to Israel's Rosh Hanikra border crossing. Earlier, relatives broke into tears on seeing TV images of Hezbollah handing over the two coffins.
The exchange was mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Lebanese prisoners crossed into Lebanon after being taken to Israel's Rosh Hanikra border crossing, the exchange mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Changing into combat fatigues, they were given a jubilant reception in the coastal town of Naqoura before being flown to the capital, Beirut, where Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and other officials greeted them.
Lorries were conveying the remains of the dead fighters, who include both Lebanese and Palestinians.
Red carpetRed 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.
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. The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the exchange is a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory.
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 Outlook bleak despite exchangeGermany's success as mediatorIn pictures: Prisoner exchangePRISONER 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 Outlook bleak despite exchangeGermany's success as mediatorIn pictures: Prisoner exchange
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. Excerpts of speeches by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah bellowed from loudspeakers to the crowds and roads were festooned with celebratory banners and Hezbollah and Lebanese flags in Naqoura.
"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. "Lebanon is shedding tears of joy - Israel is shedding tears of pain," said one banner at the border.
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.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.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 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 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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
Two of the other gunmen with Qantar were killed. A third was jailed but later freed in a prisoner swap in 1985.Two of the other gunmen with Qantar were killed. A third was jailed but later freed in a prisoner swap in 1985.
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.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.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."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."
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.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.
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.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.