A statement by the Hizbullah terrorist organization published on Thursday may be the first indication that two IDF prisoners are still alive; but IDF officials are reserving judgement.

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Mohammed Kumati, a member of the Hizbullah political bureau, said in an interview published in the Israeli-Arab Al-Sinara newspaper that “The two captives are receiving the same treatment that [previous kidnap victim] Elchanan Tanenbaum received.” He added that Islam orders all its believers to treat captives and prisoners humanely.

 

Tanenbaum, a former IDF reserve officer who was involved in an attempted drug deal was returned to Israel in 2004 along with the bodies of three soldiers four years after they were kidnapped Hizbullah terrorists.

 

Israeli intelligence experts questioned whether the statement has any basis, speculating that it was issued as a bargaining tool. They pointed out that the Hizbullah official did not refer to the state of the two soldiers, whose fate and whereabouts have not been known since the terrorists kidnapped them last July 12.

 

Goldwasser’s wife Karnit was also not convinced there was any significance to the report. Appearing on a Channel 2 morning talk show Friday, the captive’s wife said these reports are not enough and that someone must be allowed to see the soldiers to confirm that they’re alive.

 

Hizbullah has not allowed anyone to see the captives, including International Red Cross representatives who are legally allowed by the Geneva Conventions to have access to all prisoners.

 

Shlomo Goldwasser, whose son Ehud was abducted with fellow soldier Eldad Regev, urged the Olmert administration Thursday to open direct talks with Hizbullah. Goldwasser used Britain’s talks with Iran, which led to the release of its 15 sailors after weeks of captivity in the Islamic Republic, as an example of how to win the freedom of the two hostages.

 

“It doesn’t interest me that according to the law Hizbullah is defined as a terror organization,” Goldwasser told demonstrators during a rally. “We can talk to Hizbullah in order to return out sons home.”

  

Similar Signals From Hamas Captors of IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit

 

The parents of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit have also waited fruitlessly for a sign of life from their son since June 25th, when he was captured and two other soldiers killed during a cross-border raid by Hamas terrorists from Gaza.

 

As with Goldwasser and Regev, Shalit’s condition and whereabouts are unknown.

 

Shalit’s father Noam has repeatedly called on the Olmert government to become more proactive in its efforts to rescue his son since his son’s capture.

 

An Arab newspaper in Nazareth reported Friday that Hamas terrorists delivered glasses from Shalit’s parents. The newspaper said that Egyptian authorities mediated the delivery of the glasses two weeks ago. Hamas has not confirmed the report.

 

Israeli Lawyer Petitions for Further Rights for Hizbullah POWs

 

In contrast, an Israeli lawyer for three Hizbullah terrorists arrested last summer and brought to Israel has asked a Tel Aviv court to order authorities to allow more Red Cross visits.

 

The government previously permitted the organization to make contact with the three prisoners although the Red Cross has not been able to reciprocate concerning kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

 

The prisoners’ attorney told the court that Israeli authorities have prevented the Red Cross from delivering letters to them. "The prisoners are held in complete separation from other prisoners and detainees and are not even allowed to speak to them," added lawyer Smadar Ben-Natan. "The food is insufficient, contains insects and is uneatable."



Prisons' Authority spokeswoman Orit Stelser told United Press International (UPI) that the prisoners receive the same food as the 24,000 other prisoners and the staff."