Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said Friday
that negotiations with Israel on the swap of prisoners were in their final stages, but have encountered internal difficulties within Israel, according to Al Jazeera.
Nasrallah said he believed the problems in Israel regarding the deal would be resolved and added that currently under discussion are the names of the prisoners slated for release. He also said that 400 prisoners would be released.
Moreover, Nasrallah warned that further Israeli attacks on Syria or Lebanon would trigger a tough response from the
Hizbullah against Israel.
"(Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and his government are at an impasse. The Israeli army is in an impasse. If Sharon tries to get out of his internal impasse (by attacking) Lebanon and Syria, this will lead him to
the abyss," Nasrallah told a Hizbullah rally south of Beirut.
He described last week's Israeli air strike on Syrian soil as "a very grave development."
"If Sharon attacks Lebanon and Syria, we will definitely be faced with a new challenge," Nasrallah said. "We will be obliged to confront him in Lebanon... The only choice for us is to defend our country." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
