ISRAELITE SOLDIERS MISSING IN ACTION

RON ARAD

On October 16, 1986, an Israeli Phantom fighter jet blew up due to mechanical problems while flying over Sidon in South Lebanon. The pilot and navigator, Ron Arad, parachuted to safety. In a daring rescue by the IDF, the pilot was retrieved but Ron Arad was not. Arad was taken prisoner by the Lebanese Shiite organization Amal. Arad was transferred by Amal to Beirut, where the organization's leader, Nabi Berri announced that he was holding Arad. In 1987, Israel conducted indirect negotiations with Berri in an attempt to secure Arad's release. The man responsible for Ron Arad during his detention by Amal was Mustafa Dirani, the head of the organization's security service, a Shiite religious fanatic with liks to Iran. At the beginning of 1988, he left Amal due to idealogical differences, taking Arad with him. Dirani's group, The Faithful Resistance, was in financial straits. Dirani transferred Arad to Hussein Masawi of the Iranian backed "Islamic Amal" organization in exchange for $750,000. In October of 1993, IDF Deputy Minister Gur stated that the IDF believes that Arad is alive and being held in Lebanon by an Iranian backed organization. Israel continues to seek information on the whereabouts of Ron Arad and has restated its commitment to his safe return. POINT OF FACT- Ron Arad has been denied the fundamental right of any prisoner, visits by the International Red Cross or contact with his family since 1987.

ZACHARIA BAUMEL, ZVI FELDMAN, YEHUDA KATZ

On the morning of June 11, 1982, in the Sultan Ya'akub area of Lebanon, a battle occured between a Syrian Army unit and a tank force of the IDF. Two Israeli tanks were disabled and several Israeli soldiers were missing following the engagement. Sergeant Zacharia Baumel, First Sergant Zvi Feldman and Corporal Yehuda Katz remain missing. The Sai'qa organization that same day held a "Victory Parade" through the streets of Damascus featuring an Israeli tank along with captives. Since this cruel display of the captured soldiers on June 11, the exact whereabouts of the three Israeli soldiers remains unknown. In addition, Syria has denied any knowledge of an Israeli tank.

* July 4, 1983, the Syrians held a funeral in th Jewish cemetery in Damascus for four IDF soldiers. In a prisoner exchange in 1984, the four coffins were returned and documents were transferred to Israel. It was discovered that only one of the coffins contained an Israeli body, Captain Zohar Lifschitz, who was killed in the operation.

* December 6, 1993 Syria agreed to allow a US Congressional team to visit Syria and Lebanon in search of information regarding the soldiers.

* December, 1993 Yasser Arafat delivered half of Zacharia Baumel's dog tag to Jacques Nerieh, advisor to Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Arafat also promises that more information will be forthcoming. Israel is committed to the return of all the MIA's. After all the other Western hostages in Lebanon in the fall of 1991, these four were left behind.

For the sake of decency, respect for human life, and espacially for their loved ones, let these soldiers come home.

For more information call the Young Israel coalition for
Israeli MIAs at: 1-800-MIA-3182 ex. 444

B"H

ISRAELITE SOLDIERS MISSING IN ACTION

RON ARAD

ZACHARIA BAUMEL, ZVI FELDMAN, YEHUDA KATZ

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