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Israel and Hezbollah set for swap Hezbollah returns Israeli bodies
(40 minutes later)
Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are preparing to hand over prisoners in an exchange deal. Two Israeli soldiers who were part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah are dead, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has said.
Under the UN-mediated deal, Israel will release five Lebanese prisoners and Hezbollah will free two Israelis seized in a cross-border raid in 2006. Video footage showed two coffins being brought out of a car, as Israel and Hezbollah began the process of exchanging prisoners.
The condition of the pair is unknown but they are widely thought to be dead. Their capture sparked a 33-day war. Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were seized in a cross-border raid in 2006.
The bodies will be DNA tested to confirm their identity, then Israel will release five Lebanese prisoners.
The process of identifying the Israelis could take several hours.
The Lebanese men are being taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Israel will also hand over the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters killed in northern Israel.
The exchange is being mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
'Moral obligation'
The capture of the two Israeli soldiers sparked a 33-day war.
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 five Lebanese prisoners have left an Israeli jail and are now being taken to the Rosh Hanikra border crossing, where the exchange will be mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawn
The prisoners will not be released until the two Israelis have been handed over and positively identified, a process which could take several hours.
Then Israel will also hand over the remains of some 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters killed in northern Israel.
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.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.
The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to the possibility of exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies.The agreement has caused controversy in Israel, with some ministers opposed to the possibility of exchanging live Hezbollah prisoners for dead bodies.
'Moral obligation' The prisoners, including Samir Qantar (third left), left the jail before dawn
The families of the two Israeli soldiers involved in the swap, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, are said to be preparing for the worst.
Mr Goldwasser's father, Shlomo, told the Associated Press: "Tomorrow it will finally be over. It will be a relief to finally know."
Eldad Regev (left) and Ehud Goldwasser were captured in 2006
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.
Speaking to the cabinet before its vote, Israeli President Shimon Peres said: "This is not a happy day for any of us, to release murderers such as these. But we have a moral and soulful obligation to bring our soldiers home."Speaking to the cabinet before its vote, Israeli President Shimon Peres said: "This is not a happy day for any of us, to release murderers such as these. But we have a moral and soulful obligation to bring our soldiers home."
The 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 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.
After the vote, Mr Peres pardoned Qantar and the other four Hezbollah prisoners, the first formal step ahead of their release, his office said in a statement.After the vote, Mr Peres pardoned Qantar and the other four Hezbollah prisoners, the first formal step ahead of their release, his office said in a statement.
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 will be a moment of jubilation for Hezbollah, who are claiming the deal as a victory.
Qantar's imprisonment was arguably a catalyst for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, our correspondent says, as Lebanese militants kidnapped 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 kidnapped the two Israeli soldiers to demand his release.
It has taken two years and cost the lives of more than 1,100 Lebanese and nearly 160 Israelis, but now the exchange of Lebanese militants and Israeli soldiers is finally being made, he adds.It has taken two years and cost the lives of more than 1,100 Lebanese and nearly 160 Israelis, but now the exchange of Lebanese militants and Israeli soldiers is finally being made, he adds.
Missing AradMissing Arad
Qantar's release will be welcomed by many Hezbollah supporters
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had previously described Qantar as the last bargaining chip for word on the fate of Ron Arad.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had previously described Qantar as the last bargaining chip for word on the fate of Ron Arad.
An Israeli air force navigator, Ron Arad disappeared after bailing out of his craft during a bombing run on Lebanon in 1986.An Israeli air force navigator, Ron Arad disappeared after bailing out of his craft during a bombing run on Lebanon in 1986.
Under the prisoner swap arrangement, Hezbollah last weekend handed over documents about the navigator, including two previously unseen photographs.Under the prisoner swap arrangement, Hezbollah last weekend handed over documents about the navigator, including two previously unseen photographs.
However, Israeli authorities said the documents were unsatisfactory and provided no new information about Mr Arad's wellbeing.However, Israeli authorities said the documents were unsatisfactory and provided no new information about Mr Arad's wellbeing.