Barak says Hizbullah threats must be taken seriously

Source: Haaretz, 24-03-2008
War Minister Ehud Barak on Monday said that Hizbullah threats must be taken seriously, referring to recent warnings of attacks by the Lebanese resistance group to avenge its martyred deputy leader Imad Moghniyeh.
Barak's comments came as Hizbullah was scheduled to hold a formal service to commemorate 40 days since Moghniyeh's death to be attended by the organization's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was expected to make a speech at the service.
Barak added that the security establishment and the intelligence establishment are prepared and ready. "We are really in a more delicate time and there are certain dangers, but we will get through them," he said.
Meanwhile, a source in the war establishment recently told Haaretz. that 'Israel' has lifted its opposition to a deal with Hizbullah involving the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for signs of life from abducted soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser,
This source and other officials told Haaretz that indirect negotiations for the release of the two IDF soldiers that the Lebanese organization captured in July 2006 did not bog down after the assassination of Moghniyeh last month in Damascus.
Hizbullah has announced since then that it regarded 'Israel' responsible for Moghniyeh's death.
On Friday, Hizbullah deputy secretary general Naim Qassem again accused 'Israel' of culpability for Moghniyeh's assassination in a speech to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. "We have clear proof, 100 percent, that cannot be doubted, that Israel is the head of the assassination," said Qassem.
On Monday, Hizbullah is scheduled to hold a formal service to commemorate 40 days since Moghniyeh's death to be attended by the organization's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who is expected to make a speech at the service.
The talks regarding Regev and Goldwasser, these sources said, are conducted by a German secret service official under United Nations auspices, but are yielding little progress.
Negotiations with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit, another IDF soldier captured in 2006, are not progressing, the sources added, citing internal differences within Hamas.
So far, 'Israel' has said that it was categorically opposed to Hizbullah's demand to include Palestinian prisoners in any deal.