International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 16 Jul 2008

The two-year drama over the fate of abducted IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev came to a sobering end on Wednesday morning when Hizbullah handed over a pair of black coffins to the Red Cross as part of a prisoner exchange that has left Israel mourning two fallen soldiers and the Shi’ite militia celebrating the homecoming of five terrorist operatives.

IDF commanders visited the family homes today to inform the soldiers’ relatives the Red Cross had positively identified the bodies as Regev and Goldwasser. Afterwards, both fathers expressed their appreciation for the public support they had received across the nation during their 24-month campaign to secure their sons’ return.

"In the last two years we discovered what a wonderful people [the Jewish nation] is," said Shlomo Goldwasser. "We would like to thank the entire Jewish nation. This nation is our answer to [Hizbullah leader Hassan] Nasrallah, who is trying to toy with our emotions."

"I thank the Jewish nation, the media and all who have intervened on our behalf. We hoped Udi and Eldad would return alive; now we will have to adjust to a new reality," echoed Zvi Regev.

Shortly after identifying the bodies in the coffins, Israel authorities transferred convicted murderer Samir Kuntar and four Hizbullah militiamen across the border into Lebanon this afternoon, while also starting to transport the remains of 185 Lebanese and Palestinian combatants in 19 Red Cross trucks. Hizbullah in turn handed over a third coffin carrying the remains of a number of IDF soldiers who were killed during the Second Lebanon War.

The Regev and Goldwasser families will hold a private ceremony with the bodies at an IDF base near Nahariyah this evening, followed by military funerals on Thursday.

Copyright © 2006 International Christian Embassy Jerusalem