BONN, Germany, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Germany plans to join the proposed Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap it helped broker, BBC reported Monday.
Quoting an unnamed source, the BBC said Germany has offered to free three prisoners in return for information on the missing Israeli airman Ron Arad.
The report said the prisoners, two Lebanese and an Iranian, are currently serving life sentences in Germany.
Arad, an Israeli air force navigator was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. Israel believes he is still alive and being held in Iran.
Germany mediated the breakthrough prisoner swap announced Saturday. Under it, 400 Arabs held in Israel will be exchanged for an Israeli held by Lebanese militants.
German officials declined comment on the latest BBC report.
Separately, Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper also reported that Germany will release its three prisoners. The report said Germany also asked Switzerland and France to do the same.
Israel also agreed to release a German convicted of spying for Hezbollah, return the bodies of 59 Lebanese buried in Israel and offer maps of landmines it has laid in Lebanon.
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