Israel, Palestinians await prisoner swap

ZAR'IT, Israel, July 12 (UPI) -- Friends and relatives of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers said Saturday they were anxiously awaiting the implementation of a deal with Hezbollah to return them.

Hezbollah also had sent a report on a missing Israeli air force member, Ron Arad, who was captured in 1986 by a Lebanese group, Shiite Amal, Haaretz said. The report, sent through a German mediator, describes Hezbollah's effort to determine what happened to Arad, who vanished in 1988, and whether he was killed.

The prisoner swap, which is expected to be carried out in the coming week, can't come soon enough for the mother of Ehud Goldwassser, who along with Eldad Regev was kidnapped two years ago, Ynetnews reported.

"We are very anxious, extremely nervous," Miki Goldwasser said at a two-year anniversary observance in the northern Israel town of Zar'it. "It is very difficult for us to stand it. I really want this week to be over already and for no more obstacles to block the deal. I hope two years of nightmares end here."

Last week, the Israeli government approved an agreement with the Lebanese Islamic militant group Hezbollah to return of the kidnapped soldiers in exchange for the release of convicted 1970s terrorist Samir Kuntar, the Israeli news service reported. Also as part of the deal, 190 bodies of Hezbollah fighters were exhumed from an Israeli cemetery in preparation for their return to Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the two soldiers may be dead.