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Photo: AFP
PM Olmert. Will be asked to explain
Photo: AFP
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Tzvi Regev, Eldad's father
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Reproduction photo: Hagai Aharon
Eldad Regev
Reproduction photo: Hagai Aharon

Kidnapped troops' families to meet PM

Olmert to meet Thursday with families of kidnapped soldiers, who claim he broke his word Lebanon blockade will not be lifted until Israel receives new information regarding their sons

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet on Thursday in Tel Aviv with the families of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, and try to provide answers for the tough questions raised by the troops' parents following Israel's decision to lift the blockade on Lebanon.

 

Since the decision to lift the blockade was first published Wednesday evening, anger has been building up among the families, who are infuriated over the government's conduct. They claim that they were given a promise by the prime minister that the blockade will not be lifted until a sign of life is received from their sons.

 

The Regev and Goldwasser families initially hoped that the decision to withdraw Israel Defense Forces soldiers from Lebanon was in some way linked to new information on their sons' fate, but after no word was received from government representatives, they realized that Israel has given up its last means to pressure Lebanon and Hizbullah on the matter.

 

Shlomo Goldwasser, Ehud's father, said Wednesday night: "We want answers. We want to understand what's going on here. The prime minister said several weeks ago that he regards the kidnap affairs as though these were his own sons. We are not really sure that this is how he acts, or feels."

 

"Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said last week that the blockade will not be lifted until we get a sign of life from the sons. So what happened? We are not aware of any sign received. As far as we know, the government has received no such sign, and the State's representative in the negotiations has been avoiding us," he added.

 

Lebanon: No victory for Israel  

The family members have requested a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next Sunday. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also set to arrive in Jerusalem on the same day, and the families said that while they have already succeeded in setting up an appointment with the UK leader, Olmert has yet to respond to their request.


Kidnapped soldier Ehud Goldwasser 

 

Following this criticism, the Prime Minister's Office contacted the parents and invited them to meet with Olmert on Thursday. The prime minister will try and explain to the families what changes brought about the lifting of the blockade.

 

Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi al-Aridi commented on Israel's decision to lift the blockade, and said that "this move was made possible after intensive meetings with German representatives who have been authorized by the UN to conduct talks with the Lebanese army commanders."

 

Al-Aridi added that Lebanon needed international assistance in monitoring its coastline, but stressed that "Lebanon will remain responsible for its overall sovereignty in the air, the sea and on land."

 

Asked by al-Jazeera to comment on Israel's statement that its goals in Lebanon have been accomplished, al-Aridi said: "This is not a victory for Israel – Israel was forced to implement Resolution 1701. The Israelis can say what they want, and this is not the first time that they are lying. We will not take our sovereignty lightly."

 

Roee Nahmias and Ronny Sofer contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.07.06, 00:29
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