Family members of IDF captive soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev met on Monday evening with members of the IDF’s team responsible for locating missing soldiers. The forum convened in a military installation in the Tel Aviv area on Monday evening. Speculation pointed to a meeting dealing with media reports of an imminent deal between Israel and Hizbullah that will result in the return of their sons’ to Israel after close to two years in Hizbullah captivity.

In recent days, family members have acknowledged they are well-aware the boys may no longer be alive, both having sustained serious injuries when they were abducted in Hizbullah’s across-the-border attack in northern Israel in July 2006. An IDF investigation following the attack concluded the chances of the soldiers being alive are indeed slim, but at present, there are no confirmed reports regarding the disposition of the two.

German officials involved in mediation efforts between Israel and Hizbullah have also signaled that a deal will involve bodies, not live soldiers, but once again, this is based on educated speculation, not factual data.

Following the meeting, Shlomo Goldwasser, the father of Ehud Goldwasser, explained to the media the meeting was in no way connected to reports of an imminent deal between Israel and Hizbullah. He added the meeting was scheduled about two months ago.

Mr. Goldwasser explained that they came to assist the IDF, to provide them information regarding how the IDF unit can assist families during this critical period while their loved ones are held in captivity, noting more, nothing related to reported deals with Hizbullah.

Relating to Arab media reports of an imminent exchange deal, Goldwasser added that he does not give any credence to statements released by Hizbullah or the “other side” and relies totally on official Israeli sources for information.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)