Lebanese soldier freed by Israel after two-day delay following Tuesday agreement

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army received on Thursday morning soldier Ziad Chebli, the last of the five Lebanese captives Israel had agreed to release on Tuesday evening. The handover took place at the Ras Naqoura border point, after which Chebli was transferred to a Sour hospital for treatment.

He was abducted by Israeli solders on Sunday after they shot at him while he was in civilian clothing in Mazraat Bastara, a village near Kfar Shuba. His release was reportedly postponed due to undergoing surgery in an Israeli hospital.

Four other captives, all civilians, were released by Israel Tuesday evening following a meeting of the cease-fire monitoring committee, during which the Lebanese, Israeli, American, French and UNIFIL representatives agreed on establishing working groups to launch border demarcation "discussions."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that freeing the five captives was a "gesture for the new Lebanese president," referring to President Joseph Aoun, the former army chief elected in January who is known to be close to the U.S. Later on Tuesday evening, Aoun announced he'd been informed of the first four freed detainees' arrivals in Lebanon, but made no mention of the border discussions, which the Lebanese government has since clarified are "military" and not "political."

Israeli media is reporting that members of the Israeli government see the opening of talks as part of a process of normalization with Lebanon. Lebanese sources familiar with the matter told al-Manar TV that American and Israeli officials believe the role of the cease-fire monitoring committee, in its military and security aspects, is now over, and that it is "necessary to form a diplomatic and political committee," but that "Lebanon rejected this proposal, as the diplomatic and political aspect implies normalization with the enemy."