Lopsided exchange

Jerusalem

Israel and the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah agreed this week to a swap of prisoners and bodies. Israel dug up the bodies of 59 Lebanese fighters to trade them for the remains of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped in 2000. Hezbollah will give up kidnapped businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum in exchange for Israel’s release of 436 Arab prisoners, mostly Palestinians. Public opinion in Israel is divided over whether the lopsided deal was a good idea, particularly as the militant group refused to confirm that one of the three Israeli soldiers might still be alive. “On the day of the exchange, you will see who is alive and who is dead,” said Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

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