The Israeli cabinet on Tuesday ratified a deal to return two Israeli soldiers captured by Lebanon's Hizbullah fighters in 2006, in exchange for four Lebanese jailed in Israel and bodies of 200 Lebanese killed by Israeli fire. The deal was approved with a majority vote of 22 ministers favor and three opposed.
The swap will see the return of the two soldiers in exchange for imprisoned Lebanese men, including Samir Kuntar, who was jailed 29 years ago.
The majority was gained, despite Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's pronouncement Monday that Hizbullah had handed over an "absolutely unsatisfactory" report on its efforts to discover the fate Israeli navigator Ron Arad, who disappeared in Lebanon 22 years ago. Israel had demanded the Arad report as part of the exchange deal.
Meanwhile, preparations for celebrations of “Operation Al-Redwan” are going in full swing in Lebanon as the country is readying to welcome its heroes.
Hizbullah and supporters set up a "triumphal arch" near the Naqoura crossing, where the exchange is scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning. The yellow arch, which bears the pictures of assassinated Hizbullah military commander Imad Moghniyeh (Haj Redwan), has been erected in several places in southern Lebanon. Hizbullah flags and victory pictures have been hung along the Lebanese coastal highway connecting between Naqoura and Sidon, AlManar TV reported.
Lebanese media reported that the celebrations will be held in three places – in Naqoura, in Beirut's international airport and in Dahiya (Beirut’s southern suburb), which will host a mass rally to be crowned by a speech of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
