Goldwasser. Only believes Dekel
Photo: Hagai Einav
Nasrallah. Hints
Photo: AFP
Hizbullah
Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's speech
Monday, which included hints on a possible prisoner swap deal, did not stir an emotional response on the part of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers' families.
The captives' family members met with a Red Cross representative at the home of kidnapped soldier Eldad Regev in Haifa, as television channels began broadcasting Nasrallah's videotaped message.
Shlomo Goldwasser, the father of abducted soldier Ehud Goldwasser, said that the families had no indication or new information on progress being made in the talks between Israel and Hizbullah.
Deal?
Jerusalem waiting for Hizbullah's response to proposal relayed by German mediator several weeks ago: Five Lebanese prisoners in return for IDF troops Regev and Goldwasser. In videotaped speech broadcast during Beirut rally, Nasrallah says Kuntar to return to Lebanon soon
"I don’t believe Nasrallah at all. The man is simply a liar," Goldwasser said. If he suddenly wishes to be portrayed as his prisoners' savior, he should invite the Red Cross to meet our sons, just like the Red Cross can meet the Lebanese prisoners (jailed in Israel)."
He added that Ofer Dekel, the Israeli representative working on the prisoner swap deal, had not updated him for some time on any progress in the talks.
"He is the only person I believe. This is why I think that all other reports are simply not true," he noted.
The Hizbullah leader said Monday evening in a videotaped message broadcast at a Beirut rally marking eight years since the Israel Defense Forces' withdrawal from southern Lebanon that "the prisoners are our commitment and Samir Kuntar and his brothers will soon return to Lebanon."
Thousands of people took part in the rally at the Dahiya Quarter, the organization's stronghold in the southern part of the Lebanese capital.
Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were kidnapped to Lebanon 684 days ago