Source: The Jerusalem Post
Sep 05, 2006
Jerusalem Tuesday denied that it had agreed to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan mediating a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizb'allah.
Annan on Monday announced to reporters in Saudi Arabia that both Israel and Hizb'allah had accepted the offer of "the good offices of the secretary-general" to resolve the issue of Israel's abducted soldiers.
Israeli officials responded by pointing out that UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Israel-Hizb'allah war, stipulates that Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser be released unconditionally, negating the need for a mediator.
What Israel did do, they said, was insist during Annan's visit to Jerusalem last week that the UN chief ensure that 1701 is implemented to the letter.