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IAF navigator Ron Arad has been missing since 1986. del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:31 16/10/2007 Information from Hezbollah did not reveal Ron Arad's fate By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Haaretz has learned that information provided Monday by Lebanese-based guerilla group Hezbollah during an exchange with Israel did not shed light on the fate of Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who has been missing since his plane went down over Lebanon exactly 21 years ago, on October 16, 1986. In the first swap since the Second Lebanon War, Israel on Monday released an ailing Hezbollah fighter as well as the bodies of two others, in exchange for the remains of an Israeli civilian who drowned two years ago off the coast of the north and whose body was swept into Lebanese waters. Documents given to Israel by Hezbollah on Monday outlined the group's efforts to discover Arad's fate, which had it agreed to do following a 2004 deal that led to the return of Israeli businessman Elhanan Tennenbaum and the bodies of three Israel Defense Forces soldiers. Advertisement The guerilla group claims that its efforts to discover Arad's fate have failed and it has been unable to locate supposed site of his grave. The group is now demanding that Israel honor the second part of the 2004 deal. According to the deal, Hebzollah promised to supply reliable information about Arad's fate in exchange for Israel's release of Samir Kuntar, who murdered the Haran family in Nahariya in 1979. The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar claimed that Hezbollah gave Israel documents written in Arad's handwriting. The Lebanese paper did not specify when the documents with Arad's handwriting were written, but reported that they apparently dated to when he was held in Lebanon. The documents also revealed that Hezbollah had been holding the body of the Israeli civilian that was swept into Lebanon's waters since it was handed over to them by a Lebanese civilian. Chen Arad, Ron's brother, said Tuesday he would not respond to the Lebanese newspaper reports until he returns to Israel from Germany. Arad is in Germany in an effort to persuade Berlin to delay the release of two imprisoned Iranian agents, asking that their freedom be conditioned on information from Tehran on the fate of his brother. The two were convicted of assassinating Iranian Kurdish dissident leader Sadiq Sarafkindi and three of his associates, and were sentenced to life in 1997. German Attorney General Monika Harms, however, told Chen Arad and Ron Arad's daughter Yuval on Tuesday that Berlin is standing behind its decision to free Kazem Darabi and Abbas Rhayel. Harms' office said last week that the two prisoners would be released and deported in December, citing a law that allows early release for foreigners who have served at least 15 years of their sentence. The pair had been held in pre-trial custody for approximately five years, which counts toward their overall time served. Following the announcement, the German Foreign Ministry denied speculation the release was linked to any deals with Iran. Harms also insisted the early release was in keeping with German law and unrelated to any external agreements. Related articles: Nasrallah: Talks on major swap deal 'progressing' Israel frees one of 5 Hezbollah guerillas, two bodies of militants Nasrallah: Hezbollah assumes missing IAF airman Ron Arad is dead New film leaves parents in the dark on sons' fate during kidnap Bookmark to del.icio.us In Dr. King's shadow When Rice talks of a Palestinian state, she sees the black civil rights struggle in the South. Haredi satire How did Shas react upon seeing a cartoon in Degel HaTorah's official publication?   1.   freeing prisoners on all sides is a necessary prelude to peace 20:37  |  roberta 16/10/07   2.   Berlin should be ashamed of itself, really!!! 20:47  |  Petra 16/10/07   3.   It becomes increasingly clear 20:55  |  Peter XM 16/10/07   4.   # 2 petra 21:10  |  Axel 16/10/07   5.   C`mon. Will hezbolloh never return body of Ron. 23:03  |  common sense 16/10/07   6.   Ron 23:28  |  Jesse 16/10/07   7.   For Petra on German discount for Iranian state terror 23:33  |  Jonathan S 16/10/07   8.   Arad 23:39  |  Jesse 16/10/07   9.   #3 Peter 00:08  |  Yosef 17/10/07   10.   Step 2: Now release more terrorists, and we will send you a 00:45  |  Jon 17/10/07   11.   Hasn`t Bonn released perps of Münich Olympics murder of Israelis? 00:50  |  Absolute Sweden 17/10/07   12.   Appoint part of blame on the Israeli Supreme Court and Beilin 00:57  |  Absolute Sweden 17/10/07   13.   # 7 Jonathan S 02:12  |  Axel 17/10/07   14.   One of the `reasons` given in 2001 for 02:58  |  Mark Lincoln 17/10/07   15.   Ron Arad lives forever, and we will know what happened. 05:22  |  Fortuna Benmayor 17/10/07   16.   Peter xm.confused.The IRA never wanted to detroy Britain. 05:50  |  PETER SM 17/10/07   17.   TYPICAL promise reliable information on Arad`s FATE.Provide none 07:29  |  PETER SM 17/10/07   18.   to #1, freeing prisoners on all sides.. 07:55  |  Paolo 17/10/07   19.   information 08:32  |  avrumye 17/10/07   20.   why lower the bargaining position 09:32  |  sam el llanito 17/10/07

Today Online Rosner: Three ways the summit may be doomed Responses: 3 Hezbollah leader reports 'progress' in talks on major swap Responses: 193 Polish rightist party slammed for anti-Semitic campaign ad Responses: 131 Likud urges Shas, Lieberman to quit gov't over PM's J'lem hints Responses: 63 Rosner's Domain * Announcing Annapolis was a mistake * Guest: The greatest threat to the future of Israel is the status quo * McCain is the pro-peace process GOP candidate * And also faired better than Giuliani on Iran (The Israel Factor) More Headlines 09:35 Israel believes Kuntar will be price for kidnapped troops 08:58 Report: Syria confirms target of IAF attack was nuclear facility 03:41 Blair proposes tripartite cmte. to monitor progress of PA reforms 09:47 Jewish rightist: 'Finish Hitler's work, kill Ashkenazi Jews' 09:32 ANALYSIS: Hezbollah chief has sights set on making 'the big deal' 09:34 Last Jew to leave Hebron after 1929 massacre to back settler claims 23:56 Rice: Timing of summit depends on Palestinian-Israeli progress 06:04 Dutch police kill man linked to plan to blow up El Al plane 09:44 Lieberman: State lacks courage to fix systemic conversion issue Previous Editions Select Day 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 05 oct 04 oct 03 oct

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