17:51 Aug 31, '06 / 7 Elul 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Political sources have confirmed rumors that Israel has backed down from its demand for an unconditional release of two IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah terrorists and is prepared to free Lebanese prisoners in return, according to the Reuters News Agency.

The report added that Israel has insisted the two soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, be handed over to the Lebanese government before they are returned to Israel. They were abducted at the outset of the Hizbullah terrorist war July 12, after which, both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed that the soldiers would be returned without any conditions and before a ceasefire.