Ruling bloc figures plan to join the party...to welcome freed prisoners!
Source: Daily Star, 04-07-2008
BEIRUT: MP Walid Jumblatt will take part in the welcoming ceremony for Lebanese prisoner Samir Kintar and other detainees who are set to be freed soon as part of a swap deal between Hizbullah and 'Israel', a local newspaper said Thursday. "This issue goes beyond any security or political considerations," Jumblatt was quoted as saying in an interview published by As-Safir newspaper.
"It is a humble gesture to show appreciation to all those who were involved in the struggle against the 'Israeli' enemy," he added.
Hizbullah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, confirmed on Wednesday that his group had agreed to a UN-mediated deal to exchange prisoners with 'Israel', adding that the swap was expected to take place within the next two weeks.
Under the deal, which was approved by the 'Israeli' cabinet on Sunday, 'Israel' will release five Lebanese prisoners and hand over the remains of Hizbullah members in exchange for two captured 'Israeli' soldiers (or their bodies) and the remains of 'Israeli' troops killed in the course of their invasion of Lebanon during the 2006 war.
News reports on Thursday said that, in addition to Jumblatt, President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and the Future Movement will participate in the welcoming ceremony for the prisoners.
As-Safir quoted sources as saying that Saniora will take part in greeting the prisoners, vowing to "make this day a national holiday."
Suleiman expressed his desire to greet the freed prisoners and extended his congratulations to Nasrallah and the resistance on their achievements.
The Future Movement confirmed that it will take part in what it called a "national wedding ceremony," adding in a statement that the group, led by MP Saad Hariri, "will deal openly and flexibly" with Nasrallah's speech on Wednesday.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said on Thursday that the prisoner swap between 'Israel' and Hizbullah is "a sign of the beginning of understanding so that people can live in peace and reconciliation can prevail in all countries."
Sfeir left on Thursday for Australia, his second official visit to the country since 1993.
The mainstream Palestinian Fatah faction on Thursday expressed appreciation to Hizbullah for arranging the swap.
"We appreciate any effort exerted to liberate Palestinian and Arab prisoners held in 'Israeli' jails, as well as regaining the bodies of martyrs who fell during the march of armed struggle," said Fatah's West Bank spokesman, Fahmi Zaarir.
The exchange will include the remains of Palestinian fighter Dalal Mughraby and four of her comrades, who were killed in 'Israel' 30 years ago. Mughraby headed a Fatah squad that used dinghies to cross from Lebanon into 'Israel' by sea in March 1978. They later commandeered a bus and tried to drive it to the Knesset building, but they were killed en route.
BEIRUT: MP Walid Jumblatt will take part in the welcoming ceremony for Lebanese prisoner Samir Kintar and other detainees who are set to be freed soon as part of a swap deal between Hizbullah and 'Israel', a local newspaper said Thursday. "This issue goes beyond any security or political considerations," Jumblatt was quoted as saying in an interview published by As-Safir newspaper.
"It is a humble gesture to show appreciation to all those who were involved in the struggle against the 'Israeli' enemy," he added.
Hizbullah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, confirmed on Wednesday that his group had agreed to a UN-mediated deal to exchange prisoners with 'Israel', adding that the swap was expected to take place within the next two weeks.
Under the deal, which was approved by the 'Israeli' cabinet on Sunday, 'Israel' will release five Lebanese prisoners and hand over the remains of Hizbullah members in exchange for two captured 'Israeli' soldiers (or their bodies) and the remains of 'Israeli' troops killed in the course of their invasion of Lebanon during the 2006 war.
News reports on Thursday said that, in addition to Jumblatt, President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and the Future Movement will participate in the welcoming ceremony for the prisoners.
As-Safir quoted sources as saying that Saniora will take part in greeting the prisoners, vowing to "make this day a national holiday."
Suleiman expressed his desire to greet the freed prisoners and extended his congratulations to Nasrallah and the resistance on their achievements.
The Future Movement confirmed that it will take part in what it called a "national wedding ceremony," adding in a statement that the group, led by MP Saad Hariri, "will deal openly and flexibly" with Nasrallah's speech on Wednesday.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said on Thursday that the prisoner swap between 'Israel' and Hizbullah is "a sign of the beginning of understanding so that people can live in peace and reconciliation can prevail in all countries."
Sfeir left on Thursday for Australia, his second official visit to the country since 1993.
The mainstream Palestinian Fatah faction on Thursday expressed appreciation to Hizbullah for arranging the swap.
"We appreciate any effort exerted to liberate Palestinian and Arab prisoners held in 'Israeli' jails, as well as regaining the bodies of martyrs who fell during the march of armed struggle," said Fatah's West Bank spokesman, Fahmi Zaarir.
The exchange will include the remains of Palestinian fighter Dalal Mughraby and four of her comrades, who were killed in 'Israel' 30 years ago. Mughraby headed a Fatah squad that used dinghies to cross from Lebanon into 'Israel' by sea in March 1978. They later commandeered a bus and tried to drive it to the Knesset building, but they were killed en route.
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