Meanwhile, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has not succeeded in convincing Hizbullah terrorists to give some proof that the soldiers are alive.
Ahmad Fawzi, a spokesman for United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday that both Israel and Hizbullah asked him to intervene and negotiate the freedom of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who were abducted July 12th by Hizbullah terrorists.
Israel flatly denied the claim, and foreign news services reported that a government spokesman said, "A mediator is not needed." He added, "The UN resolution determines that the soldiers will be released unconditionally.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev added that Israel was prepared for Annan to "assist" but not mediate.
Regev said that during Annan's visit to Israel last week, "we urged him to bring about the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages."
Israel said at the outset of the war that there would be no ceasefire without an uncondtional release of the IDF soldiers. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the same, but both quickly backed down from their positions after Israel failed to put a quick and decisive end to Hizbullah rocket and missile attacks which devastated northern Israel.
According to a report in The New York Times, both Israel and Annan have each appointed a ‘secret’ representative to negotiate an Israel-Hizbullah prisoner exchange. Annan said, however, that “Lebanon-Hizbullah” was still in the process of selecting a negotiator to represent them in the talks.
Annan has insisted on maintaining close control over the talks, and said he would brook no interference from other parties. “If I’m going to take it on,” he said, “my mediator should be the sole mediator.” He added a warning: “If others get in, we will put out.”
Israel has refused to negotiate with Hizbullah. It is clear, however, that Lebanon will not deal the issue without the terrorist organization, which has two ministers and other supporters in the Lebanese cabinet. Italy and Germany were previously involved in talks concerning the hostages, but no formal deal was reached. Meanwhile, the Lebanese culture minister said Saturday that his government would not involve itself directly in negotiations to release the Israeli soldiers.
At a Monday meeting with Hizbullah officials in Lebanon, American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson called for Hizbullah to “show signs of life, and video evidence,” he said, “because it would jump-start a framework to start talks.” Jackson also said the continued detention of the hostages is “becoming a magnet to attract a second round of war.” Hizbullah has refused to release information about the health of the two reservists.
There was no direct mention of Gilad Shalit, the IDF corporal captured by Hamas terrorists during a June 25th raid on an army base near the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza in the south. Sources said the issue of Shalit’s release may also be raised during the course of the negotiations for the release of the two IDF reservists.
There have been a number of reports in Arab media in recent days that a prisoner swap for Shalit is being negotiated. However, his father Noam denied the claim, saying “I read about it in the newspapers alone and know nothing of such a deal.”
Vice Premier Shimon Peres was quoted by Israel Army Radio on Monday as saying Israel will talk about prisoners from the Palestinian Authority only after Shalit is released.
Ahmad Fawzi, a spokesman for United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday that both Israel and Hizbullah asked him to intervene and negotiate the freedom of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who were abducted July 12th by Hizbullah terrorists.
Israel flatly denied the claim, and foreign news services reported that a government spokesman said, "A mediator is not needed." He added, "The UN resolution determines that the soldiers will be released unconditionally.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev added that Israel was prepared for Annan to "assist" but not mediate.
Regev said that during Annan's visit to Israel last week, "we urged him to bring about the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages."
Israel said at the outset of the war that there would be no ceasefire without an uncondtional release of the IDF soldiers. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the same, but both quickly backed down from their positions after Israel failed to put a quick and decisive end to Hizbullah rocket and missile attacks which devastated northern Israel.
According to a report in The New York Times, both Israel and Annan have each appointed a ‘secret’ representative to negotiate an Israel-Hizbullah prisoner exchange. Annan said, however, that “Lebanon-Hizbullah” was still in the process of selecting a negotiator to represent them in the talks.
Annan has insisted on maintaining close control over the talks, and said he would brook no interference from other parties. “If I’m going to take it on,” he said, “my mediator should be the sole mediator.” He added a warning: “If others get in, we will put out.”
Israel has refused to negotiate with Hizbullah. It is clear, however, that Lebanon will not deal the issue without the terrorist organization, which has two ministers and other supporters in the Lebanese cabinet. Italy and Germany were previously involved in talks concerning the hostages, but no formal deal was reached. Meanwhile, the Lebanese culture minister said Saturday that his government would not involve itself directly in negotiations to release the Israeli soldiers.
At a Monday meeting with Hizbullah officials in Lebanon, American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson called for Hizbullah to “show signs of life, and video evidence,” he said, “because it would jump-start a framework to start talks.” Jackson also said the continued detention of the hostages is “becoming a magnet to attract a second round of war.” Hizbullah has refused to release information about the health of the two reservists.
There was no direct mention of Gilad Shalit, the IDF corporal captured by Hamas terrorists during a June 25th raid on an army base near the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza in the south. Sources said the issue of Shalit’s release may also be raised during the course of the negotiations for the release of the two IDF reservists.
There have been a number of reports in Arab media in recent days that a prisoner swap for Shalit is being negotiated. However, his father Noam denied the claim, saying “I read about it in the newspapers alone and know nothing of such a deal.”
Vice Premier Shimon Peres was quoted by Israel Army Radio on Monday as saying Israel will talk about prisoners from the Palestinian Authority only after Shalit is released.