So who is fibbing now?

Remember UNSC Resolution 1701 – the one that called for the unconditional release of the two kidnapped Israel soldiers by Hezbollah? According to this news report from the Toronto Star, Kofi Annan has agreed to mediate a resolution between Israel and Hezbollah over the soldiers’ release:

JIDDA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has agreed to mediate the prisoner issue between Israel and Hezbollah after getting requests from sides, Annan's spokesman said Monday.

It would be the first time that Israel has publicly agreed to indirect contacts with the Lebanese guerrilla group over winning the release of two of its soldiers who were snatched in a cross-border raid July 12.

Israel has insisted it wants an unconditional release of the soldiers. Hezbollah has said it would only free them as part of a swap for Arab prisoners held by Israel. The UN spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, would not comment on whether Annan's mediation would focus on proposals for a swap. "The secretary general has accepted to play a role as mediator in the matter of the abducted soldiers," Fawzi said. "They have both requested mediation," he added, referring to Hezbollah and Israel.

According to the Arutz Sheva, Israel is officially denying that it requested Kofi Annan to mediate the issue with Hezbollah.

Israel flatly denied the claim, and foreign news services reported that a government spokesman said, "A mediator is not needed." He added, "The UN resolution determines that the soldiers will be released unconditionally.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev added that Israel was prepared for Annan to "assist" but not mediate. Regev said that during Annan's visit to Israel last week, "we urged him to bring about the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages." Israel said at the outset of the war that there would be no ceasefire without an uncondtional release of the IDF soldiers.

In fairness to the Toronto Star, I should point out that it is using an Associated Press account, but this is still an interesting development. Firstly, because we have an UN official claiming Israel requested mediation and then Israeli denial. So who is fibbing now? Ehud Olmert is presiding over what might go down as the most corrupt Israeli administration of record and that’s saying something. The Israeli Prime Minister is such a slimeball that he almost makes Annan look good. So the truth on this one is anybodies to grab.

Then we have a top UN official actively seeking to undermine the terms of UN Resolution 1701 which calls for the unconditional release of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. Take a moment and think about how one goes about mediating an unconditional surrender? Not much room to negotiate or much leeway to give to the term “unconditional surrender”.

But no one should worry because Rev. Jessie Jackson is still working on a deal with Hezbollah - who knows, maybe he is Annan's point man on this one so we can count on him having the spread covered.