Arab affairs experts here believe yesterday’s prisoner of war exchange between Israel, Syria and Lebanon will be followed shortly by a similar PW exchange between Israel and Egypt. According to the experts. Syria’s agreement to return three Israeli fighter pilots it had held captive for three years in exchange for 46 Syrian and 10 Lebanese PWs held by Israel was a preparatory maneuver on the eve of the Security Council’s Middle East debate scheduled to open Wednesday.
The Arabs are showing the world that they want to “clear the decks” of all extraneous issues before the Council session so that all attention can focus on the problem of returning the territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War, one commentator said today. He added that it appeared fairly certain that the Egyptians were coordinating with Syria on the PW issue.
In addition, Cairo press reports over the weekend hinted that Egypt would consider U.S. sponsored indirect negotiations with Israel. But Egypt would insist that Israel state what territories it wants to keep and that the U.S. pressure Israel to withdraw, the reports said. Observers here believe that on the eve of the Security Council debate Egypt is muting its war talk and seemingly favors a political settlement.
FESTIVE HOMECOMINGS FOR PWS
The three returned Israeli PWs had festive homecomings yesterday. Capt. Gideon Magen was greeted by songs, dances and wine when be returned to Kibbutz Ein Shemer with his wife who had gone to the Golan Heights to meet him on his release. Capt. Pinhas Nahmani was similarly greeted at his home village of Yokneam where he stopped over briefly before leaving with his wife for her parents’ home. Lt. Boaz Eitan, who is unmarried, returned to Kfar Vitkin with his father and was feted by his neighbors.
The three fliers, who claimed they were subjected to torture while captives of the Syrians, will begin undergoing a series of medical tests today to determine their physical conditions. After that they will be granted extended leave to be with their families. Lt. Eitan lost several finger and toe nails and said he permanently lost the hearing of one ear as a result of repeated beatings on the head by his captors. Capt. Magen suffered multiple fractures.
Premier Golda Meir said in a speech here last night that she shared the joy not only of the Israeli families whose loved ones returned but that of the Syrians and Lebanese as well. “I hope there will be no more wars and no more prisoners on either side,” she said.
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