Olmert denies spy release is part of a Hizbullah swap deal

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected speculation that the release this week of a Hizbullah spy is part of a prisoner swap with the guerilla group. Olmert denies that Sunday's release of Nasim Nisr heralds an exchange that would see Israel release Lebanese prisoners for two IDF soldiers captured in 2006. At the time of Nisr's return to Lebanon, Hizbullah transferred to Israel a box containing the body parts of IDF soldiers. Nisr said his return was part of a larger deal. But Olmert says Nisr was released only because his sentence was up and Israel was surprised to get the body parts. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Olmert said there was no deal or coordination ahead of time.