Chen Arad
Photo: Tzvika Tishler
Missing airman’s family contacts Iranians
Ron Arad’s brother tells Arabic-language newspaper family engaged in direct contacts with Iranian, Lebanese officials in bid to secure information about missing airman
Independent negotiations? Chen Arad, the brother of missing airman Ron Arad, who was taken captive in Lebanon in the 1980s, revealed that his family has recently contacted religious and political officials in Iran and Lebanon.
In an interview with Arabic-language London-based newspaper al-Hayat, Arad’s brother said the family believes direct contacts with such elements are the best way to elicit information about the missing airman’s fate.
Notably, Israel was supposed to receive information about Arad’s fate in the framework of the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal with the Hizbullah. However, Chen Arad said the hopes were premature.
“According to the information we have, the deal that was made is already over,” he said. “Now we’ll count on personal efforts.”
10 million dollar reward
However, despite the Arad family’s impendent efforts, it turns out that Israel continues to act in an effort to elicit more information about Arad. Knesset Member Ayoob Kara (Likud) said behind-the-scenes meetings with Muslim and Arab figures on the matter continue.
Kara, who said contacts on the matter should be focused on Iran, noted that Israel is holding Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners who are connected to Iran, a fact that may prompt Teheran to agree to a swap.
“In recent months we held meetings with senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and additional Arab states, aimed at advancing this issue,” he said.
Several months ago, a non-profit organization acting to elicit information about Arad has offered a USD 10 million reward to anyone who can provide information about him. According to the report, the organization received several reports from Arab states regarding Arad, including one from an individual claiming to possess a personal object belonging to Arad. The organization is currently looking into the information with the assistance of international elements in a bid to establish its credibility.
