Hezbollah/Israel

       Hezbollah has renewed its demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of an exchange with Israel that would see the return of two Israeli reservist soldiers snatched in a raid across the Israel-Lebanon border almost two years ago, Army Radio reported Sunday. The radio quotes sources in Jerusalem as saying that the Hezbollah demand was presented to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday by Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold security consultations on Sunday ahead of approving a deal with Hezbollah to return kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Security sources told Haaretz that previous reports notwithstanding, Defense Minister Ehud Barak supported the outlines of the proposed deal. Most other ministers are also said to favor the swap. A senior official in the Prime Minister's Bureau said on Sunday the deal with Hezbollah would not be completed this week. An internal cabinet meeting has been set for Wednesday, but a deal with Hezbollah will not be on the agenda. "Even if a vote is taken this week, it will take a few more weeks until the deal is complete," the source said. A government source close to talks with Hezbollah said Israel is still demanding clear information on the soldiers' condition before a swap can be approved. If they are dead, a possibility based on the soldiers' injuries at the time of the abduction, Israel would be releasing live terrorists - reportedly Hezbollah operatives captured in the Second Lebanon War and terrorist Samir Kuntar - for dead bodies. A government source said most of the ministers supported the deal even if the soldiers are not alive. (20,27)