Kidnapped soldier's brother: Speak to Hizbullah
Benny Regev, Eldad's brother, says families of kidnapped soldiers will spend sorrowful New Year's evening
With tears in his eyes, Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, who was kidnapped by Hizbullah in a cross-border attack on July 12, delivered a message to Israeli citizens for the New Year: "I hope that in the future we will sit together, but during our holiday, that of the Goldwasser and Shalit families, a very dear person will be missing."
Regev, who returned home from a round of meetings with world leaders at the United Nations, called on the Israeli government to hold talks with Hizbullah, citing that the Lebanese government is too weak.
"I hope that Israeli families will feel our sorrow on this holiday and express empathy, will and prayers," he said.
"There are no new developments but there is a will at the United Nations to return the kidnapped soldiers as they agreed that the issue needs to be solved. There are no concrete developments, there is will to act," he said.
Regev said relatives of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hamas and Hizbullah, met with a number of UN ambassadors, including US Ambassador John Bolton and Greek UN ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, who promised to work for the release of Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser.
Ehud Goldwasser's wife Karnit rushed to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud as he left the podium after delivering his speech and introduced herself. Lahoud ignored her, mumbled something in Arabic and carried on walking.
Asked why he didn't do the same, Benny Regev said: "I wear a kippa, it exposes me but I understand that Lahoud didn't answer and he didn't cooperate but I understand he is under a lot of pressure. Lebanon's ambassador to the UN sits in a chair behind the Israeli ambassador but the dialogue needs to be with Hizbullah. Speaking to the government there is not enough, because it is not strong enough. I know there are talks and that the Israeli government is showing readiness to speak, but I don't know if there are talks with Hizbullah."
Regev said he hoped reports that Gilad Shalit could be release soon part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas are true.
Asked if Israel should release prisoners in return for his brother's release, Regev said: "It is too early to speak about the price; the government needs to agree to a deal which will be presented to the public, but I would agree to freeing prisoners."
He said he hoped that Hizbullah would agree to a prisoner exchange deal with Israel as Ramadan approaches, as it is a Muslim custom to free prisoner during the holy month.
