Kidnapped troops' families to meet with PM

Olmert to meet Thursday with families of kidnapped soldiers, who claim he broke his word Lebanon blockade will not be lifted until Israel receives new information regarding their sons

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet on Thursday in Tel Aviv with the families of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, and try to provide answers for the tough questions raised by the troops' parents following Israel's decision to lift the blockade on Lebanon.

End to Blockade

Israel to lift Lebanon blockade Thursday evening / Ronny Sofer

UN secretary-general, US secretary of state inform PM Olmert that multinational force in Lebanon ready to take over monitoring of Lebanon's air, sea ports. Consequently, Israel announces will withdraw its forces on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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Since the decision to lift the blockade was first published Wednesday evening, anger has been building up among the families, who are infuriated over the government's conduct. They claim that they were given a promise by the PM that the blockade will not be lifted until a sign of life is received from their sons.

The Regev and Goldwasser families initially hoped that the decision to withdraw IDF forces from Lebanon was in some way linked to new information on their sons' fate, but after no word was received from government representatives, they realized that Israel has given up its last means to pressure Lebanon and Hizbullah on the matter.

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