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Commentary;
Here is a classic example of mainstream media misrepresentation of the facts.
German magazine: No date yet set for announcement, but expected soon; Gov’t official denies report, says talks on matter continue.
But if one reads the report below, nowhere is there a denial from any government source, unlike the “leader” which alleges denial. This author sticks with Jerusalem committeeman Nir Barkat’s assessment of Livni’s lack of a denial regarding Jerusalem talks with Abbas and project it on to the Der Spiegal report. In essence, as this author sees it, Jerusalem Post is warning Olmert that if he verifies the Der Spiegal report as correct by making such a declaration, that it will be the final nail in the political coffin. MB
Der Spiegel: Olmert to Declare Goldwasser, Regev Dead
Full Text;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning on declaring the two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 dead, the German weekly magazine, Der Spiegel reported on Saturday.
According to the report, no date has yet been set for an official announcement on the subject, but unnamed sources told the magazine that they expect it to be made soon.
Although the Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to the report, a government official told Israel Radio that there was still no new, definitive information about kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
The official added that Israel still believes that the two reservists are alive, and continues in negotiations with Hezbollah through mediators.
After Hezbollah kidnapped Goldwasser and Regev in July 2006, Israel launched an operation which aimed – among other objectives – to return the soldiers. The operation quickly escalated into what was later termed as the Second Lebanon War, and left over 150 Israelis dead, and over 1,000 Lebanese.
In an interview with Der Spiegel published on December 11, 2007, Olmert voiced his frustration over Hezbollah’s unwillingness to offer goodwill gestures which could advance a prisoner swap.
“[Hezbollah is] trying to use the same old techniques: They want everything in advance before they let us know the status of the soldiers,” he said.
In October, statements made by Nasrallah which indicated positive progress in the negotiations led to speculation of a deal involving the release of Samir Kuntar. The Hezbollah leader had previously demanded the release of Kuntar, who is serving multiple life terms for the killing of three members of the Haran family and policeman Eliahu Shahar in Nahariya in 1979.