The two most prominent prisoners Israel freed were former Lebanese guerrilla leaders Abdel Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani. Israel also turned over the remains of 60 Lebanese militants as part of the German-brokered deal. In return, Israel got businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum, kidnapped in October 2000 by Hezbollah, and the remains of the three soldiers.

Some Israelis were concerned the deal could encourage more kidnappings by Hezbollah, branded as terrorists by Washington.

"We are releasing another 400 Palestinians with a very heavy heart, because we know that these 400 will return very quickly to the cycle of violence," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said in Jerusalem.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 7, 2004
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