Olmert To Annan: Not Without Our Soldiers
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert put UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on notice Wednesday that Jerusalem will not view Security Council Resolution 1701 as fully implemented until its abducted soldiers are returned. While much of their meeting focused on the deployment of international peacekeepers to and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, Olmert stressed that "Resolution 1701 would not be implemented in full without the soldiers' release and return home." Israel Defense Forces reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were abducted by Hezbollah along Israel's northern border on July 12, sparking more than a month of brutal warfare. They are said to be alive, but in less than satisfactory condition. Hezbollah refuses to allow the Red Cross to treat them. Annan promised to do what he can to secure the soldiers' release. However, the UN's traditional position has been to support and help broker prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Olmert has publicly refused to free jailed terrorists in exchange for Regev and Goldwasser. Israeli officials noted that Annan travels next to Syria and Iran, two nations with considerable influence over Hezbollah, and insisted he press both regimes to order the release of the two captives.
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