Tens of thousands rally in T.A. for IDF abductees

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Tens of thousands gathered in Rabin Square in the heart of Tel Aviv Thursday evening for a rally calling for the release of the two IDF soldiers abducted by Hezbollah guerillas last month, and another soldier snatched in June by Palestinian militants.

The demonstration was non-partisan and non-political in nature. Participants were asked to to carry any signs or messages calling on the government to resign or for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Lebanon war.

The rally, entitled "soldiers are not left behind," called for the immediate release of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev kidnapped by Hezbollah on July 12, and Gilad Shalit, abducted by Palestinian militants on June 25. The rally was organized by friends and families of the abducted soldiers, and by some public figures.

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"I appeal to the prime minister and the heads of the international community this is the time to begin to act and to bring them home," Karnit Goldwasser, wife of Ehud Goldwasser told the crowd.

Haaretz

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1. German spy chief who brokered 2004 prisoner swap heads to Beirut

The head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, the BND, is en route to Lebanon, a German foreign ministry official said late Thursday, fuelling speculation that Germany may play a role in a prisoner swap between Israel and Lebanon.

"I can only confirm... that Uhrlau is in the meantime on his way," German Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler told N24 television. "But I cannot confirm that there has been any concrete negotiations."

"What is known, is that the Israeli state is hoping for and also expects from us to do what we can. And we are happy to do this," Erler said.

Israel Defense Forces reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were abducted by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah group in a July 12 cross-border raid, sparking a 34-day conflict ended by an August 14 United Nations-brokered cease-fire.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/757242.html