Reports: Israeli's release part of Barrack-sponsored arrangements

The release of Arab Israeli citizen Salah Abu Hussein by Lebanon on Thursday, after he spent around a year in Lebanese prisons, is part of “a course that will unfold in the coming days,” prominent sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Friday.

The move is linked to “promises presented by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack about a step that the Israeli government will make in return for the (Lebanese) government’s decision to disarm the resistance (Hezbollah),” the sources said.

“Barrack noted that there is a possibility that Israel might release some Lebanese captives and withdraw from points that it had recently occupied,” the sources added.

Asharq al-Awsat newspaper meanwhile quoted Israeli political sources as saying that "the team of U.S. envoy to Syria and Lebanon Ambassador Thomas Barrack is behind this step."

"Barrack is seeking to secure the release of Israeli-held Hezbollah captives as part of the Israeli-Lebanese agreement that is materializing," the sources said.

Israel said that Thursday that Abu Hussein was released “following negotiations held in recent months, with the assistance of the Red Cross.”

An Israeli police spokesman had announced in February the disappearance of Abu Hussein, who hails from the village of al-Rummana in northern Israel.

Israeli media reports said Thursday that the man is "mentally unstable." Lebanese media reports meanwhile said that he crossed into Lebanon to find a job and because he no longer wanted to live in Israel. He later asked to be deported to a third country and not to Israel, the reports said.

Abu Hussein's Lebanese lawyer, Fadia Chedid, said Thursday that her client had no legal or security case in the Lebanese judicial system.

Chedid told LBCI television that Abu Hussein had been detained for more than 13 months after crossing the border “by mistake.” She said he told her he had become lost and attempted to "swim back," but lost his way again.

“His case was with the public prosecutor’s office, and I coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross to secure his release,” Chedid said, noting that General Security had no objection to her representing him.

Israel had in March released five Lebanese citizens, saying it was a goodwill gesture to President Joseph Aoun who had been newly elected at the time. The move also followed U.S. pressure.

Fifteen more citizens are believed to be still held in Israel, including at least seven Hezbollah fighters who were captured during Israel’s incursion into south Lebanon during last year’s 66-day war. Eight of the Lebanese citizens were abducted from south Lebanon after the November ceasefire.