Negotiations remained at a standstill today for a general prisoner-of-war exchange between Israel, Syria and Egypt. The negotiations are being conducted through the International Red Cross. Egypt still refuses to exchange ten Israeli POWs for 60 Egyptians in Israeli custody. Israel refuses to deal with Syria alone.
Israel holds 45 Syrian POWs but Damascus appears to be interested mainly in five high ranking intelligence officers captured by an Israeli patrol during an incursion against terrorist bases in Lebanon June 21. Beirut newspapers reported today that Syria was shifting its troops along the Israeli border, apparently out of fear that the captured officers might have divulged information on troop positions.
Syria was reported to be trying to persuade the Egyptians to agree to a general POW exchange as the only means of getting back the five officers. The Beirut newspaper Al Nahar said today that the Soviet Union supported the Syrian position. According to the newspaper, President Hafez Assad of Syria was told on his recent visit to Moscow that Soviet leaders believe the time is ripe for an overall POW exchange.
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