Israel Says It Didn't Agree To Annan-Brokered Prisoner Swap
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Jerusalem on Tuesday denied that it had asked for or agreed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's assistance in mediating a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah. On Monday, Annan told reporters during a visit to the Saudi Arabian port of Jiddah that both Israel and Hezbollah had "accepted the good offices of the secretary-general to help resolve" the issue of two abducted Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists. "I will designate someone to work discreetly and quietly with them to find a solution," he said, adding that his only condition was that "my mediator should be the only mediator." Both Germany and Italy had already signaled they were working with Hezbollah on the terms of a prisoner swap. Israel, however, maintained that it was still seeking the unconditional release of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, and that Annan's assistance was neither necessary nor wanted. A government official told the AP that "a mediator is not needed," noting that UN Security Council Resolution 1701 "determines that the soldiers will be released unconditionally." When Annan visited Jerusalem last week, Israeli officials called on him to ensure that the terms of 1701 were implemented to the letter. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told The Jerusalem Post that Israel conveyed to Annan that the soldiers' "continued holding was a direc |
