The German mediation efforts towards a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah seem to have paid off. The deal is complete and now awaits Israeli cabinet approval, which is expected on Sunday. If approved, the agreement will then be signed by Israel, followed by Germany bringing the document to Beirut to obtain the signature of a Hizbullah representative.

The actual implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement is expected to follow during the week or two after the signing. At present, none of the 10 paragraphs that comprise the agreement are being publicized.

According to a Haaretz report, there are fears in Israel that Hizbullah at the last moment may attempt to raise the price of the exchange, based on reports that appeared on Wednesday (HERE on YWN) warning Israel this is a limited window of opportunity after which Hizbullah may change demands “in a thousand ways”.

During Wednesday’s Security/Political Cabinet meeting, as some of the ministers were leaving, the prime minister remembered the matter of the captive soldiers and asked the ministers to remain a few more minutes. Mr. Olmert turned to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and asked if there is a way to halt the IDF’s process of deciding if the Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev may be declared soldiers who died in duty and their burial locations are unknown. Ashkenazi stated this is not possible, stating the process is the responsibility of the IDF Rabbinate, and the IDF Chief Rabbi is the ultimate authority who must make such a decision, one that cannot be halted.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office explained that the IDF chief requesting that the chief rabbi halt his investigation would be similar to requesting that the IDF prosecutor’s office halt an ongoing investigation.

Speaking to Mrs. Karnit Goldwasser, Ehud’s wife, the prime minister signaled he will stop the process. Ehud’s father, Shlomo, told the press on Wednesday that the prime minister did indeed tell a family member that the prime minister stated he will stop the process, referring to IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky determining if the soldiers will be declared ‘dead’ instead of their present status of ‘live prisoners’. Ronsky is examining all the information in the case, including the latest intelligence reports, and he continues to consult with Gedolei HaDor towards arriving at his p’sak.

In the meantime, family members of the two soldiers are not taking any chances, continuing their lobbying efforts among cabinet ministers ahead of Sunday’s meeting. Shlomo Goldwasser and other family members fear some of the ministers may link a declaration of the soldiers being dead with the terms of the agreement, namely Israel’s release of live terrorists in exchange for bodies, a move that does not enjoy the support of senior officials such as the directors of the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) and the Mossad.

According to a reliable but unconfirmed report, when asked by family members why he objects to the release of Samir Kuntar, Mossad director Meir Dagan explained “because he belongs to another deal,” referring to missing air force aviator Major Ron Arad. Dagan was quoted as saying that if the report which Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised to Israel pertaining to the status of Arad contains adequate information that perhaps paints another picture, he would contemplate changing his position and removing his opposition. To date, Nasrallah has indicated that he does not have any new information on Arad, who fell into captivity in October 1986.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)