Arab prisoners sent to Germany

An Israeli air force plane carrying a group of Arab prisoners left today for Germany as another plane, carrying a kidnapped Israeli and the bodies of three soldiers, took off from Lebanon, setting into motion a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Under the German-mediated deal, expected to be completed later today, Israel is to release 436 prisoners in exchange for captive businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum and three soldiers whom Hezbollah confirmed are dead.