Israel asks for German help in freeing hostages

[cal04]

Israel on Thursday welcomed any help that Germany could give in trying to free two Israeli soldiers captured by Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas, but emphasised it would not discuss a prisoner swap.

The abduction of the soldiers on July 12 triggered an Israeli offensive in Lebanon that has killed over 300 people. Hizbollah is seeking an exchange of prisoners similar to one it made with German mediation in 2004.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told Germany's ZDF television:

"German officials have previously played a constructive role in the freeing of hostages, in some case where soldiers were abducted. Now is the time when the same German officials could be active again."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20783394.htm

[IndianaGreen]

1. It is never too late for a ceasefire or a prisoner swap

Israel could have agreed to discuss a prisoner swap before it embarked on the destruction of Lebanon. There have been prisoner swaps in the past!

Let's hope that Olmert is not bullhitting when he says he cares about the IDF captives:

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday in his first formal address since the crisis began that the soldiers' release was a precondition for halting the offensive and that he keeps photographs of the three in his office. "Many times during the day I look in their faces, into their eyes, and embrace them in my heart. I do not forget them for one minute," Olmert said.

But the week-long offensive in southern Lebanon has raised concerns among some family members. "It seems that it complicates our situation, as most of the attention is on fighting," said Noam Shalit, father of Gilad, the corporal captured outside Gaza. The father runs a bed-and-breakfast in the manicured hilltop community of Mitzpeh Hila, less than 20 miles from Lebanon.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13944118/

[Ian David]

2. Did he offer to give the germans a massage? n/t

[saigon68]

3. Merkel has to free herself from Sam's sphincter First