Captive's mother opposes release of Hizbullah agent

Mickey Goldwasser, the mother of kidnapped Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser, announced Monday her objection to the release from jail of a former Israeli citizen convicted of aiding Hizbullah.

Six years ago, Nissim Nasser, who immigrated to Israel from Lebanon in 1982, was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of maintaining contact with a foreign agent and transferring information to the enemy with the aim of undermining the state's security.

The Israel Prison Service parole board rejected Monday Nasser's appeal for an early release. He is now scheduled to be freed in April.

Nasser, a former Israeli national, relinquished his citizenship while in prison.

'Not enough bargaining chips'

In a letter addressed to the parole board and the Israeli public, Goldwasser noted that Nasser's release could harm efforts to free her son and Eldad Regev. According to Goldwasser, the fact that Hizbullah has demanded Nasser's release proves that the organization needs him, "or that he served Hizbullah faithfully."

"Releasing a spy, especially in a time of war, or at least of high tensions between Israel and Hizbullah, would serve Hizbullah's interests and grant it another victory over us," Goldwasser wrote.

"While the US refuses to release Jonathan Pollard, despite the fact that the US and Israel are considered allies, how is it that we are willing to free a man who served Hizbullah? A man who may have provided information that enabled Hizbullah to harm our troops, kidnap soldiers and prepare for the Second Lebanon War?

"Today, when we are in negotiations for the release of Eldad and Udi, and with not enough bargaining chips as it is, why is the possibility of releasing a Hizbullah spy even being considered? The State has the ability to withhold the release," she concluded,