Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
Photo: AFP
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah
Photo: AP
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Gov't denies talks with Hizbullah
Political sources deny claims by Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah that Israel is negotiating a prisoner exchange deal with Shiite group to secure release of two kidnapped soldiers
Officials in Jerusalem were unimpressed with comments made by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah who said Sunday that progress is being made in talks between Israel and the Shiite group for the release of two Israeli soldiers part of a prisoner exchange deal.
Senior government officials said Nasrallah's comments point to tension within the leadership of the guerillas and unequivocally rejected his claims.
"We are not speaking with Hizbullah. Israel and the international community are dealing with the Lebanese government … the Lebanese government is responsible for the fate of the soldiers," senior officials said.
Egyptian daily al-Ahram published a report on Sunday saying that a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah is in advanced stages.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday discussed with German officials the release of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, the two Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped by Hizbullah on July 25.
Livni will also meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss progress on the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Efforts are also being made to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped by Palestinian gunmen near Gaza on June 25.
