Israel confirms kidnapping of reserve soldier

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The militant Islamic group Hezbollah said Sunday it had captured an Israeli colonel - a statement that was bolstered hours later when Israel confirmed that one of its reserve soldiers had been kidnapped.

There was no immediate confirmation from Israel that the soldier was in Hezbollah's hands: The Israeli Defense Ministry did not name him or say who kidnapped him or where. But Israel's Channel Two television reported that the man was seized in Europe and transferred to Hezbollah.

The reservist ''was kidnapped after he left Israel of his own will for personal reasons,'' the Defense Ministry said. It called the kidnapping ''a serious act and contradicts all norms of international justice.''

The kidnapping threatened to heighten tensions in an already volatile region as international leaders were preparing for a Palestinian-Israeli summit to put an end to weeks of hostilities.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah had said an Israeli army colonel working with one of the Israeli security agencies was seized ''in a complicated security operation.''

Details will be revealed ''at the appropriate time,'' he said in an announcement broadcast on Lebanese television and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah's own TV station. ''Let's leave them (the Israelis) for a while searching for him,'' he said.

Among those listening was Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss, who looked solemn.

The announcement took Israeli military and political leaders by surprise. Initially they said they were unaware of any soldier missing. The Defense Ministry's confirmation came hours later.

In Israel, Channel Two television quoted an unidentified Israeli official as saying the man was a businessman kidnapped by partners in a business deal in Europe, and that he was transferred to Hezbollah. Israeli security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the kidnapping took place in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, federal police spokesman Rolf Debrunner said authorities were checking the report but had no immediate information.

Nasrallah said the latest kidnapping, like Hezbollah's seizure of three Israeli soldiers earlier this month, was to show support for the Palestinians fighting Israeli troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The fighting - in which almost 100 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed - has inflamed passions across the Arab world.

The three previous kidnap victims were seized Oct. 7 along Lebanon's border with Israel, and Hezbollah has said it wants to swap them for dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Arab prisoners held in Israel. The United Nations has attempted to mediate in that capture, so far without success.

Israel holds 15 Lebanese prisoners, including two guerrilla leaders. Palestinians have asked Hezbollah to include about 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in any swap. And Iran, Hezbollah's chief backer, said four of its nationals believed held by Israel since 1982 should be freed as part of a prisoner swap for the Israelis.