"Itim News Agency" reports that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan wrote in the report which he submitted during the night to the Security Council that "painful concessions" will have to be made by Israel and Lebanon in order to free the hostages.
"Although the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers was one of the causes of the crisis, their unconditional release is only one of the many steps and compromises which both sides will have to adopt for the safety of Israeli and Lebanese citizens," wrote Annan in his 14 page report.
The Security Council is expected to discuss Annan's report this Monday.
In UN Resolution 1701, the Security Council had stated: “Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers."
Shimon Peres spoke with Annan on Saturday and asked him to work for the release of the soldiers and to try to arrange a meeting with representatives of the Red Cross to check their condition. On Friday, Red Cross representatives in Israel complained that Hizbullah and Hamas refuse to let them visit the three soldiers which they hold hostage.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 20, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006