DATE=4/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON PRISONERS (L)
NUMBER=2-261422
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICE AT:
INTRO: Israel's Supreme Court has refused to block
the release of 13 Lebanese prisoners being held as
bargaining chips for Israeli soldiers missing in
action in Lebanon. V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel
reports from Jerusalem.
TEXT: The Israeli Supreme Court rejected a last-
minute petition designed to block release of the
Lebanese detainees.
The 13 prisoners have been held - in some cases for
more than a decade - to be used as bargaining chips
for information about Israeli soldiers missing in
action in Lebanon.
Israeli commandos kidnapped most of the detainees.
The Supreme Court ruled last week the prisoners should
be released, saying the government can no longer
detain people who are not a threat to the nation's
security.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak summoned his top
security advisors to discuss the case, and says in a
statement he is leaning toward supporting emergency
legislation in parliament that could keep the
prisoners behind bars.
Relatives of Israeli soldiers missing in Lebanon have
asked Mr. Barak and members of parliament to help
circumvent the Supreme Court's decision.
Parliament Speaker Avraham Burg is considering calling
a special session of the parliament so lawmakers can
vote on legislation that could prevent release of the
detainees.
The bill would allow the government - not the court -
to decide if prisoners can be held as part of efforts
to free Israelis missing in action.
/// OPT /// The Israeli military has said two
additional detainees will not be released. They are
Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, a Shi'ite Muslim spiritual
leader, and Mustapha Dirani of the Amal guerrilla
movement. Israeli soldiers kidnapped Sheikh Obeid in
1989 and Mustapha Dirani was abducted in 1994.
/// OPT /// The Lebanese have been held as pawns
primarily in efforts to free Israeli airman Ron Arad
who was shot down over Lebanon and captured by
Lebanese guerrillas. Mr. Arad's family has been
leading the appeal to keep the detainees behind bars.
/// END OPT ///
The release of the prisoners has been cancelled twice,
once last week due to what the military called
"operational reasons," and again Sunday night because
of the petition that has now been rejected. (Signed)
NEB/MB/JWH/JO
17-Apr-2000 12:33 PM EDT (17-Apr-2000 1633 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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