Ali Dandash and Cilina Nasser
Daily Star staff

A Hizbullah fighter received a hero’s welcome in the Bekaa on Monday night after his release from an Israeli jail where he spent over 14 years.
The return of Mohammed Abbas Barzawi, captured during a Hizbullah attack on Israeli troops in 1987, has sparked hope of progress in negotiations on a prisoner swap that would see the release of other Lebanese still in Israeli prisons.
Israel cited health reasons for releasing Barzawi, 37, to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which then transported him over the border.
Ahead of his arrival in his hometown of Baalbek, some 500 relatives and Hizbullah supporters gathered at the city’s entrance to greet Barzawi with rice and rose petals, which were tossed amid chants of “God is great,” and “Death to Israel.”
The crowd hailed Barzawi, as well as some two dozen other fighters believed to be held in Israel.
Brandishing a Kalashnikov rifle and wearing the traditional keffiyeh, Barzawi was driven to the city’s main square, where he addressed a crowd of 5,000 people.
“I thank God who brought me out of the Israeli prison,” he said. “I cannot describe to you what is happening in Nafha Prison. There is complete darkness in that prison.”
Barzawi said conditions were very difficult for inmates, both Lebanese and Palestinian, and he also thanked Hizbullah secretary-general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Hizbullah Shura Council member Sheikh Mohammed Yazbek praised Barzawi, expressing hope that the remaining detainees in Israeli prisons would be freed.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah officials took credit for Barzawi’s release, hinting that efforts were being made to release other Lebanese detainees.
“The release of Mohammed Barzawi came as a result of efforts by Hizbullah,” said a party official who asked not to be identified. “Hizbullah will continue (these efforts) to release all the detainees.” He added that the efforts came in a framework of “a plan that is expected to activate the negotiations.”
Hizbullah is hoping to exchange four Israelis being held in return for the release of Lebanese and Arab detainees, some who have been held for more than 22 years. The negotiations are being conducted by German mediators.
The internet edition of the Jerusalem Post said Barzawi’s release had “evoked the possibility that Hizbullah might release some reliable information regarding the three (Israeli Army) soldiers it kidnapped.”
Hizbullah snatched the three from the Shebaa Farms last October. The following week, Hizbullah announced the capture of an Israeli reserve army colonel, later identified as Elhanan Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum was captured after being lured to Lebanon following alleged attempts to recruit a Hizbullah member to work for Israel’s Mossad intelligence service. Israel, however, claims Tannenbaum has no links to Mossad and was only a businessman. The Israeli Army has publicly announced the death of the three soldiers.
Hizbullah offered to swap an Israeli captive for Palestinian fighters in the West Bank camp of Jenin in April. It presented its initiative to the chief delegate of the International Committee for the Red Cross, Henri Fournier.
Israel said previously that it was not taking the offer seriously. However, it was unknown if today’s progress was due to unrelated efforts. ­ With agencies

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