Report: First contacts made between Israel, HizbullahRead the FULL article
Al-Hayat reports that Germany, Red Cross mediated initial contacts between Israel and Hizbullah aiming towards agreement to end fighting in north and exchange prisoners. Hizbullah still refuses to reveal details on welfare of hostages
Meanwhile, the other kidnapped Israeli soldier is alive as well:
The abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive and is being treated as a prisoner of war, the Hamas political leader, Khaled Meshaal, said today.Read the FULL story
Speaking at a high-security press conference in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Mr Meshaal said Corporal Shalit would be released in return for the release of some of the 9,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons
Let's hope the face saving on both sides is not going to harm them after all that!
I am also somewhat optimistic this weekend. Maybe diplomacy will take it's place in the war between Israel and Hizbullah and the fire could be ceased.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Shalit, I'm afraid that as long as Meshaal runs things for Hamas, his defiant stand will not allow for a resolution. He sits in Damascuss, controls the money and doesn't want the local leadership of Hamas to show any power.
A lot of Israelis and supporters of Israel have felt that, by denouncing the extent of Israels' counter attacks, people must be automatically pro-Hezbollah, or at least, soft on criticism towards them. I mentioned in an earlier post or comment sometime ago, that there are always many people who have something to be gained from continuing conflict, either 'professionally/politically, or personally. I suspect (not knowing too much but with the little I have read) that that is the case with Shalit. In essence, the money flow to HIM needs to be cut off and some of that money, is coming from Saudi Arabia. Whether it's unofficialy from the gov't I don't know but..it's one way of curtailing Shalit's strong arm.
ReplyDeleteHow have you been? Have you gone anywhere else besides Haifa?
Ingrid