Negotiations over the liberation of hostages and prisoners of war held by radical elements in Lebanon apparently have been put in the hands of lawyers.
Amnon Zichroni, an Israeli attorney who has dealt with these matters before, is once again in charge for Israel. He has taken over the task after little headway was made in recent months by Uri Lubrani, the Israeli government’s chief hostage negotiator in Lebanon, and U.N. emissary Giandomenico Picco.
Zichroni is in Geneva attending a meeting of non-governmental organizations on Palestine. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he has met with senior Red Cross officials on the subject of Israeli hostages and soldiers listed as missing in action.
Faisal Abu Issa, president of the Organization of Arab Lawyers, is handling negotiations on the Arab side.
Abu Issa told JTA that Germany is also active in the hostage situation. He claimed that the Israeli army’s recent incursions into southern Lebanon are hampering contacts.
Abu Issa, a Sudanese who now lives in Egypt, said he visited Lebanon two months ago and was encouraged on his mission by the president and prime minister.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
