Three days before he presents the deal for the return of an Israeli captive and three bodies, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet today with the families involved: Avitan, Avraham and Souad, whose sons were killed by Hizbullah along the Lebanese border three years ago and whose bodies are still in Lebanon; Tenenbaum, whose father/husband Elchanan was kidnapped by Hizbullah three years ago and is still being held there; and Arad, whose husband/father/brother Ron was captured when his IAF plane was downed in Lebanon in 1986, but who is not included in the deal - as he is being held in Iran.
The deal to be presented for Cabinet approval on Sunday includes the release of over 400 Lebanese and PA prisoners from Israeli prison, in exchange for the return of Tenenbaum and the three bodies. None of the PA prisoners are said to have "blood on their hands," though some of the Hizbullah terrorists killed Israeli soldiers in battles in Lebanon. Included among the Lebanese prisoners are Arad-captor Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Obeid, who were being held as "ransom" for information on Ron Arad. One Syrian prisoner and a Pakistani will be released, as will eleven Jordanian citizens in a gesture to King Abdullah. No Egyptians will be included, unless Israeli Druze citizen Azzam Azzam is released from Egyptian prison.
Almost half the Cabinet ministers have not yet decided how they will vote. Those who outspokenly object to the deal include Housing Minister Eitam, Justice Minister Lapid, Education Minister Livnat, Tourism Minister Elon, Welfare Minister Orlev, Public Security Minister HaNegbi, as well as Ministers Landau and Zandberg. Prime Minister Sharon, together with Ministers Mofaz, Ezra, Naot and probably OImert, will vote in favor. Yediot Acharonot commentator Alex Fishman writes today that it is likely that Sharon's powers of persuasion, and his warning that a no-deal would lead to increased Hizbullah abductions as well as the loss of the chance to save Tenenbaum, will carry the day.
GSS head Avi Dichter and Mossad chief Meir Dagan are against the exchange, while IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon and IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Ze'ev Farkash are in favor. Israel Air Force Commander Gen. Dan Halutz objects, saying it will be a breach of trust towards Ron Arad.
Representatives of the Avraham and Avitan families are meeting today with several of the wavering ministers in an attempt to convince them to support the deal. One of the ministers, Danny Naveh, said that this was the hardest decision he has ever had to make in his public life.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah is "talking and bombing." A string of powerful bombs was detected along Israel's Lebanese border by an IDF scout yesterday near Kibbutz Ma'yan Baruch. Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the bombs were intended to hit an IDF patrol, in the same manner as led to the abduction and killing of the three soldiers at Mt. Dov three years ago.
Click here for the various pros and cons of the issue.
The deal to be presented for Cabinet approval on Sunday includes the release of over 400 Lebanese and PA prisoners from Israeli prison, in exchange for the return of Tenenbaum and the three bodies. None of the PA prisoners are said to have "blood on their hands," though some of the Hizbullah terrorists killed Israeli soldiers in battles in Lebanon. Included among the Lebanese prisoners are Arad-captor Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Obeid, who were being held as "ransom" for information on Ron Arad. One Syrian prisoner and a Pakistani will be released, as will eleven Jordanian citizens in a gesture to King Abdullah. No Egyptians will be included, unless Israeli Druze citizen Azzam Azzam is released from Egyptian prison.
Almost half the Cabinet ministers have not yet decided how they will vote. Those who outspokenly object to the deal include Housing Minister Eitam, Justice Minister Lapid, Education Minister Livnat, Tourism Minister Elon, Welfare Minister Orlev, Public Security Minister HaNegbi, as well as Ministers Landau and Zandberg. Prime Minister Sharon, together with Ministers Mofaz, Ezra, Naot and probably OImert, will vote in favor. Yediot Acharonot commentator Alex Fishman writes today that it is likely that Sharon's powers of persuasion, and his warning that a no-deal would lead to increased Hizbullah abductions as well as the loss of the chance to save Tenenbaum, will carry the day.
GSS head Avi Dichter and Mossad chief Meir Dagan are against the exchange, while IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon and IDF Intelligence Chief Gen. Ze'ev Farkash are in favor. Israel Air Force Commander Gen. Dan Halutz objects, saying it will be a breach of trust towards Ron Arad.
Representatives of the Avraham and Avitan families are meeting today with several of the wavering ministers in an attempt to convince them to support the deal. One of the ministers, Danny Naveh, said that this was the hardest decision he has ever had to make in his public life.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah is "talking and bombing." A string of powerful bombs was detected along Israel's Lebanese border by an IDF scout yesterday near Kibbutz Ma'yan Baruch. Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that the bombs were intended to hit an IDF patrol, in the same manner as led to the abduction and killing of the three soldiers at Mt. Dov three years ago.
Click here for the various pros and cons of the issue.