Body of Israeli exchanged for Hezbollah prisoner, 2 dead guerrillas in Lebanon

The exchange of a Hezbollah captive and the bodies of two Lebanese fighters for the body of an Israeli civilian is linked to efforts to win freedom of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah a year ago, Israel's government said.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said the deal was "in the framework of negotiations to return the captured soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser."

An Israeli military vehicle carrying the bodies of the dead Lebanese crossed into the no man's zone along the border at sundown and returning shortly afterward, crossing paths with Lebanese ambulances headed the other way.

The statement said that in addition to the body, "Hezbollah gave Israel additional information about another affair, and it will be checked soon." It did not elaborate.

Israel received the body of an Israeli who drowned nearly three years ago in exchange for the bodies of two Lebanese militants killed in the war last summer and another Hezbollah captive, who was released for medical reasons, the statement said.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said, "We believe that this is an example of what a future deal with the Hezbollah would look like that will bring about the release all the Israelis held in Lebanon. I would like to thank the U.N. and the International Red Cross who helped make this happen."

Former Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said the deal "has an element of balance and should be welcomed." He said the importance should not be exaggerated, but "it is important that a route of communication has been opened."

The TV station reported that the exchange was negotiated through the channels dealing with two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas last June, setting off the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Eyal Regev, brother of one of the captured soldiers, told the TV station that he hoped this deal would lead to freedom for the two soldiers. "We really hope that what happened today will lead to the big deal that will see them come home."

"This is not an opening. This does not promise anything for the future," said well-connected Channel 2 military correspondent Ronni Daniel, reporting from the Israel-Lebanon border after Israel lifted a daylong blackout imposed by the military censor.

Amnon Zichroni, an Israeli lawyer who has dealt with several prisoner exchanges, told Channel 2, "This is a positive sign for the future."

About 100 people gathered near the Lebanese army checkpoint where the exchange was to place. Among them was Hussein Wizwaz, in his 60s, who came after hearing from Hezbollah that the body of his son would be returned.

Ali Wizwaz, 32, was killed in a border battle with Israeli troops, his father said. But Hussein Wizwaz said he hoped that prisoners would be freed first, including Samir Kantar, held since 1979 for killing three Israelis.

"Those who are alive are more important than the martyrs," the man said.

Israeli officials have raised the possibility that the two soldiers held by Hezbollah might not have survived the initial attack. Military officials then said one of the soldiers was critically wounded and the other seriously wounded when they were captured, without giving further details.

Hezbollah has repeated the two soldiers captured last year would be freed only in exchange for freedom of all Lebanese prisoners held in Israel.

Several Hezbollah members were captured during last year's war. In addition to Kantar, the main Lebanese prisoners held in Israel are Nasim Nisr, a Lebanese-born Israeli captured for having contacts with Hezbollah, and Yehia Skaff, who was detained in 1978 while taking part in a Palestinian militant attack that killed 35 Israelis, are also held in Israel prisoner.

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Associated Press writer Mark Lavie contributed to this report from Jerusalem.