Karnit Goldwasser, the wife of Ehud Goldwasser, one of two IDF soldiers being held by Hizbullah since July 12, 2006, sent a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert through her attorney, stating that she is planning to file a petition with the Supreme Court in the hope of preventing IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky from declaring her husband and fellow captive Eldad Regev dead. She fears that such a move would compromise government efforts to obtain their release, despite statements on Tuesday from Defense Minister Ehud Barak that even if it is learned the two are dead, he will not cease his tenacious efforts to bring their bodies back home.

There is a growing opposition to the proposed prisoner exchange deal with Hizbullah, with senior defense and intelligence officials opposing the exchange of live terrorists for bodies, stating if the soldiers are dead, then only bodies must be given in exchange.

The harshest statement came on Monday from former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon, who stated if the price is too high; the government must sacrifice a soldier for the good of national interests.

Karnit Goldwasser in her letter requested a response from the prime minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak within 48 hours.

Karnit told Mabat Channel 1 News on Tuesday night that the prime minister told her on the day Ehud was abducted that he would do everything possible to bring him home and she is holding him to it.

She added that Ofir Dekel, the prime minister’s spokesman, told her that the cabinet will vote on the proposed Hizbullah prisoner exchange deal at this coming Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting.

Mrs. Goldwasser stated she does not have any idea why the government suddenly called on the army’s chief rabbi to rule on the status of her husband and his fellow combatant, Eldad Regev.

Channel 1 reported that there seems to have been new information introduced into the picture, compelling the move towards the army’s chief rabbi and the sudden hesitation towards moving forward with the original Hizbullah exchange deal.

Shlomo Goldwasser, Ehud’s father, stated he fears that a declaration that the soldiers are dead will most likely stop the process and then they will be nowhere. He questions why it took two years to begin questioning if the soldiers are alive, stating if this was done in the beginning, the original prisoner exchange deal would have looked significantly different from the onset.

Miki Goldwasser, Ehud’s mother, stated that unless there is absolute proof that the two are dead she will not accept such a ruling from anyone.

Eyal Goldwasser, Ehud’s brother, stated “for two years, Hassan Nasrallah tortured us and now, Ehud Olmert tortures us.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)