January 26, 2004
Government Statement on Prisoner Exchange

1. The Government of Israel announces that pursuant to its November 9, 2003 decision, an arrangement has been concluded regarding the return of the three missing IDF soldiers - Sgt. Adi Avitan, Staff Sgt. Benyamin Avraham and Staff Sgt. Omar Sawaid - who were kidnapped on October 7, 2000, and abducted citizen Elhanan Tannenbaum.
   
   According to the arrangement and as was agreed on by the Cabinet, in exchange for the return of the aforementioned abducted Israelis, the State of Israel will release prisoners and detainees being held in its prison installations and will hand over Lebanese bodies.
   
   The arrangement specifies a mechanism for carrying out a further arrangement, the goal of which is to secure tangible information on the fate of captive navigator Ron Arad and return him to his home. According to this mechanism, Lebanese prisoner Samir Kuntar will be released after Israel receives concrete proof as to Ron Arad's fate.
   
   The Government of Israel will continue its efforts to fully implement the arrangement and reiterates its commitment to take any action and make every effort, and not to rest, until all POWs and MIAs are returned to Israel.
   
   The Government of Israel expresses its deep appreciation for the continuing efforts of the German government in helping to bring our boys back home.
   
   The Government of Israel appreciates the dedicated work of the team led by Ilan Biran.

2. At the weekly Cabinet meeting today on Sunday, January 25, 2004 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on the issue of the release of prisoners and kidnapped Israelis in Lebanon:

   "I would like to inform you that the captives' deal, as was approved by the government, is close to reaching a conclusion.

   The State of Israel has again proved that it acts on the basis of the prime value of returning its sons to their homes. This decision has not been an easy one. The government rarely has to deal with such moral dilemmas. In my opinion we have made the right moral and responsible decision.

   The agreement includes a system where all relevant sides take an active part until Ron Arad's fate is disclosed and he is returned to Israel, something that we all hope will happen very soon.

   I want to emphasize that the murderer of the Haran family and policeman Eliyahu Shachar's will not be released, until Israel receives tangible proof of Ron Arad's fate.

   The negotiations for the return of our sons began a short time after they were kidnapped, and have been conducted continuously ever since then, except for short interruptions. Last summer significant progress was made, and after the government decision, I instructed the negotiating team to negotiate according to the principals adopted by the government.

   In recent weeks, it became clear to the Defense Minister and to me that the circumstances which would allow a settlement according to those principals had been created. This agreement remained secret until last night's announcement by the German mediator.

   I want to thank the German government and to the mediators who acted in its name for the continued efforts to bring this agreement to conclusion.

   In addition I would like to thank you, Ilan, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ilan Biran and to the team you led, for the persistence and understanding with which you carried out the negotiations. I know from our numerous all night meetings that it was not simple.

   Today we all embrace the families. We promise to do the utmost so that the remaining missing soldiers will be brought home soon."

   The head of the negotiating team Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ilan Biran briefed the government on the agreement to release the kidnapped prisoners according to the government decision of November 9, 2003, and the Prime Minister's and Defense Minister's approval for the details of the agreement completed over the weekend, based on the German mediator. The agreement says that Hezbollah will release the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers and the Israeli citizen, and Israel in return will release 23 Lebanese including Obeid and Dirani; Israel will also release 400 Palestinians. Israel will decide who is to be released according to the criteria set by the government; their names will be announced 48 hours before the deal is completed. In addition, Israel will release 12 Arabs to their home countries, to Syria, Sudan, Morocco and Libya. Israel will transfer maps of minefields in southern Lebanon and will release German citizen Stephen Smirak. The murderer Samir Kunter will be released after Ron Arad's fate is clarified with tangible proof.