The body of an Israeli hiker found in China was recently identified as Ada Gershkowitz, 62, who went missing some five months ago.

Gershkowitz's body was found a few days ago in a crevice near the hiking track she was traveling on and it is believed she tripped to her death.

The Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Israel's embassy in China had begun arrangements to transfer Gershkowitz's body to Israel for burial.

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Ministry officials said they had been working together with the embassy, Gershkowitz's family and the local Chinese authorities to locate her in recent months.

Gershkowitz left Israel in March 2006 for a trip to the Far East. She traveled alone through Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China. The last time she contacted her three daughters was last November, from a Chinese town in the Yunnan region.

She told them she planned to go on a three-day trek in the area. She intended to return to Israel at the end of December.

When she did not return two of her daughters went to China in January to look for her. A group of volunteers joined them and searched along Gershkowitz's hiking track, but in vain.

The daughters asked for the Foreign Ministry's help with the Chinese authorities to widen the search.

A few days ago a local resident found the body, with Gershkowitz's passport near it. He reported his find to the police, which informed the Israeli embassy.

Gershkowitz's relatives identified the body, among other things because of the personal effects found nearby.