After years of exhaustive negotiations, the government of Israel approved on Sunday, the outline of an agreement to release two Israeli soldiers who were abducted before the Second Lebanon War by Hezbollah.
Two years have passed since the abduction of Gilad Shalit on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, and Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border.
Since the end of the second Lebanon War, countless meetings have taken place in various locations around the world, primarily, to set in motion every factor that could assist to bring back the soldiers home, or as Israeli's say, "our sons."
"As far as we know, two soldiers, Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, are no longer alive. They were killed during the kidnapping or died from their wounds soon after the incident," said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Israel will release in exchange for the two abducted soldiers hopefully alive, several Lebanese prisoners, eight members of Hezbollah and an unknown number of Palestinians detained in Israel. Bodies of dozens of infiltrators and terrorists will also be delivered to Lebanon.
Israel will also provide to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, information concerning four missing Iranian diplomats.
Cpl. Gilad Shalit, detained in Gaza by Hamas, is not a part of the deal. Prime Minister Olmert declared that the government of Israel will continue acting for his release.
Israel will receive a report on the disappearance of Israel Air Force navigator Capt. Ron Arad, whose fate has been unknown for more than 20 years.
The current deal with Hezbollah has been a hot and emotional topic of debate in Israel. Many believe that the abducted soldiers should be released at whatever price, while others are afraid that returning Hezbollah prisoners who were charged with terrorist crimes could cost even more lives.
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