Where’s Ron Arad, ask leaflets

Arabic-language leaflets from Born to Freedom Foundation reach southern Lebanon, Bekaa; USD 10 million offered for information on missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad; Lebanese security officials open an investigation
By Roee Nahmias

Hundreds of Lebanese residents have been receiving, during the past few days, surprising mail from Germany, England and other countries.

Arabic-language leaflets sent to Lebanon have been offering USD 10 million for information on the fate of missing Israel Air Force navigator Capt. Ron Arad.

The London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported on Friday that the pamphlets were mainly mailed to residents in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

The leaflets included a color photograph of Ron Arad, whose jet was downed over the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp in 1986.

The pamphlets were also marked with the return address of the non-profit Born to Freedom Foundation, which seeks the whereabouts and release of Arad.

Full discretion regarding any information provided was guaranteed.

Lebanese authorities not amused

The Lebanese did not take the stunt very well. Residents called the security forces, which opened an investigation. So far, 400 leaflets have been confiscated.

The chairman of the Born to Freedom Foundation, Uri Chen, declined to respond to reports.

The organization has also tried to publicize its cause in Iran and some Arab countries, relying on, among other outlets, the Qatari TV station al-Jazeerah.

Last December, Ynetnews reported leads on Ron Arad’s fate coming from Iran and a number of Arab countries.