Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., July 06, 2008 Tamuz 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:04 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki stading next to a portrait of the four missing diplomats. (AP) Last update - 13:07 03/07/2008 Iran: Israel holding diplomats who vanished in Lebanon in 1982 By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Iranian diplomats, Israel  Iran's embassy in Beirut this week released a statement claiming that Israel is holding four Iranian diplomats who vanished in Lebanon in 1982. "This is what we have concluded from the information we have, which comes from a variety of sources, and which has no contradictory evidence," says the statement, issued to mark the 26th anniversary of their disappearance. Hezbollah is demanding that Israel present a document detailing the incident, which occurred during Israel's first war in Lebanon, as part of the imminent prisoner exchange between the two sides. The fate of the four has been raised during every round of negotiations between Hezbollah and Israel in recent years. Advertisement The Iranian statement also claims that Israel is responsible for the fates of the diplomats, as it was the occupying force in Lebanon at the time. It also said that Tehran will continue efforts to establish what happened to the four via the international community. After years of tension, Israel had invaded Lebanon in 1982 in an effort to halt Palestinian attacks on its population centers in the north. The four Iranian diplomats disappeared in southern Lebanon in July 1982. They were led by Ahmad Motevaselian, the head of an 800-strong unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard based in Lebanon during the country's civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1990. The three others were the interim ambassador to Lebanon, Muhsen Mousavi, the bureau chief of the Iranian news agency in Lebanon, Kazem Akhavan, and Taki Rastegah Mukadam, their driver who had dual Iranian-Lebanese nationality. As far as is known, the four were arrested by Christian Phalangists at a roadblock in southern Lebanon and were killed by the same militia a short time later. According to one version of events, the burial place of the four has been built over, preventing the recovery of the bodies. The Phalangist commander, Samir Geagea, has said several times that his men detained and killed the four diplomats, on the orders of his predecessor Eli Hobeika, who was killed several years ago. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Video attack West Bank settlers tie Palestinian man to phone pole and beat him. A static future Iran's nuclear program remains unchanged despite economic incentives.   1.   Ron Arad 15:49  |  Arie 03/07/08   2.   same treatment to Iran ,hezbollah 17:16  |  charro 03/07/08   3.   Arad and the diplomats can be all dead, but... 18:02  |  ManintheMiddle 03/07/08   4.   Iran thinks that? Good. Tell them swap will be for Ron Arad. 18:03  |  Dr. L. Brnd 03/07/08   5.   BALONEY 18:53  |  Iskander 03/07/08   6.   The `diplomats` are not dead.... 20:05  |  David 03/07/08   7.   The Lebanese murdered them, of course 23:16  |  x-ray 03/07/08   8.   Iran - Let`s Talk Till We Finish The Bomb. Use Neutron Bomb NOW! 08:08  |  Ethan 04/07/08   9.   No They`re Over Here 00:08  |  Yosemite 05/07/08   10.   Well... On The Other Hand 06:31  |  Yosemite 06/07/08   11.   what rubbish, pure PR. The truth is well known and they know it. 16:52  |  Jo 06/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Settlers beat up bound Palestinian man Responses: 127 General Staff: Use force in response to Qassams Responses: 65 Gideon Levy: Israel prefers bombing Iran to peace with Arab world Responses: 81 Amnon Straschnov: Destroying terrorists' homes is counterproductive Responses: 51 ANALYSIS / Truce is a poker game, and both sides are bluffing Responses: 29 Rosner's Domain On Israel-Diaspora relations, Israelis are quite clueless How good/bad is Obama's faith based initiative (WTR) Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews Back to Vietnam More Headlines 20:01 Report: Israel-Hezbollah swap to begin Thursday 17:39 Negev farmer: Gaza sniper opened fire on me 19:00 U.S. reported to fear Israeli strike won't take out Iran nukes 16:13 Former top Israeli diplomat says Syria ready to cut Iran ties 18:16 Police conclude: Jerusalem bulldozer attacker acted alone 18:56 Attention celebrities: Israeli start-up company can save you from paparazzi 12:57 T.A. flat may hold key to holes in Kafka bio 18:38 104 kg of uncut cocaine seized in Israel's largest drug bust 14:05 Tycoon Arcadi Gaydamak halts flow of cash to Israeli charities 17:08 West Bank village Na'alin under general curfew after violent protests 15:57 Man charged with murder apparently shot the wrong man 13 times 14:18 Gov't engages in heated debate about Ramon wiretapping inquiry 19:18 Abbas meets Assad on prospects for Fatah-Hamas reconciliation 15:29 Man seriously hurt after falling from escalator at Modi'in mall Previous Editions Select Day 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun

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