Israel tabs enemy cemetery a closed zone

SAFED, Israel, July 6 (UPI) -- An Israeli cemetery thought to hold slain enemy fighters is now a closed military zone, Israeli Northern Commander Maj.-Gen. Gabi Eizenkot said Sunday.

By closing the cemetery to regional military actions, Eizenkot appears to be preparing for a prisoner swap with Hezbollah officials that could bring Israeli reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev back home, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Israeli Cabinet approved a deal Sunday that would bring the soldiers back to Israel in exchange for the bodies of several dozen Hezbollah troops buried in Israel.

Israeli officials suspect Goldwasser and Regev are both dead as well, but Israel has nonetheless agreed to send the Hezbollah bodies to Lebanon along with Lebanese terrorist Samir Kunta and other living detainees.

The Post said in apparent preparation for this deal, Israeli troops have begun clearing away bushes from the slain militants' graves at the cemetery near the city of Safed.