Lebanon arrests woman for contacting Israel over Ron Arad
PMO said last month that Israel was working on the assumption that the missing IAF navigator is still alive.
By Jack Khoury Tags: Ron Arad Lebanon Israel newsLebanese intelligence services have detained a woman suspected of contacting an Israeli foundation seeking solid information on the whereabouts of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, the London-based Arabic-language daily al-Hayat reported on Tuesday.
According to Al-Hayyat, Lebanese citizen Rhada El-Akili had received calls to her mobile phone originating from Israel informing her of a $10 million reward for credible information regarding Ron Arad, who has been missing since his plane went down over Lebanon in 1986.
El-Akili reportedly attempted to contact the Israeli number on five separate occasions. The Lebanese government declined to provide any more information as to the nature of the calls.
The London-based newspaper said that the woman was expected to face a military tribunal, where it will be decided whether to pursue her case further.
In June, the Lebanese army reportedly warned citizens not to respond to recorded phone messages asking for information about Ron Arad or other Israel Defense Forces troops missing in action.
Lebanese have been receiving phone messages periodically for more than a year asking people to view a Web site or call if they have information on missing Israeli soldiers.
The Web site, www.10million.org, belongs to a foundation set up by the Israeli government and offers a U.S. $10 million reward.
An army statement said Saturday that the messages were a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. It said any response would be considered clear collaboration with Israel.
Israel has in the past refused to say if it was behind the calls.
Last month, the Prime Minister's Office stated it was still searching for the missing navigator and theat it was working on the assumption that he is alive.
The announcement came in response to a classified Military Intelligence report, which claimed Arad had remained alive at least nine years after his plane went down over Lebanon in 1986.
According to the report, Arad most likely died in Lebanon sometime in the mid-1990s.
"Efforts to shed light on Ron Arad's fate are constantly continuing," the PMO said in response to the report. "We are working on the assumption that the captive navigator is still alive."
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When there is war, and a country attacks another country prisoners are taken, and when one side does not return the prisoners, you might as well should be expecting the other country not returning your prisoners either. This is war people, whats with all the arguing. Ron is probably getting beaten to a bloody pulp, treated and then beaten again, just for entertainment. The same is probably happening to the 17000 Leb prisoners in Israel.
10 millions is a huge sum and many people in Lebanon must know the fate of Arad so it's worth the risk.
It's interesting. If Israel were to routinley mistreat its prisoners, abuse them, deny them contact to the world, deny them conditions that may be expected in a prison, Israeli rights groups would be rightfully outraged. It would be considered intolerable for Israelis to know that prisoners were being mistreated. When Israelis are captured or go missing, and no information is availible on their conditions, where is the outrage by concerned people in the countries where the Israelis are held? Why are they silent? www.buckeach.blogspot.com
You know nothing about history Connie. Lebanon is a part of Syria, and so is Palestine. Lebanon has not been eaten by Syria and Hezbollah is Lebanon's pride...the pride that defeated Israel. This is how much we value ourselves. We defeat our enemies against all odds.
Sorry you find the calls a nuisance but then what would you folks know of caring about loved ones...you have allowed yourselves to be swallowed up by Syria and Hezbollah so I can only assume you have no respect for yourselves at all and cannot comprehend the angst of a people who value their citizens and yearn to know what has happened to them. There is something ugly about a group of people who refuse such information,after so many years, but if this is the game you wish to play.. well you are in the game for life.
the intensity with which israel seeks its missing soldiers seems to irritate her enemies who seem to show no concern. those thousnads of missing lebanese were kidnapped and murdered by oppsoing militias, syrians, hezb'alla. but the lebaneses government shows no ineterest in finding them. we care for every prisoner we hold with red cross visits healthy feeding and education (Kuntar says that he was always informed of outside events in prison. “Following the struggle and long resistance of our comrades, to the point of death, we were allowed to read newspapers, listen to the radio and watch TV. We did not allow ourselves to languish.” In fact, Kuntar received a degree from Israel’s Open University Social and Political Sciences in prison.. do we have different humanitarian standards? don't you lebanese care? shame on you.
it is illegal for Lebanese to communicate with Israel. And what kind of anal retentive passes such a law? Or enforces it. Dimbulb gets a call offering a zillion dollars and is stupid enough to reply. Slam, the door closes and Lebanese Itell pukes congratulate themselves on their accomplishment in wiretap. Another dangerous and greedy housewife out of business. Were it not such a pathetic tragedy it could be made into a fantastic farce.
Ghassan in Beirut - do you have a better idea on how Ron Arad can be brought back home? It seems that a large monetary reward is a great idea. If he is no longer alive, simply provide the proof. The phone calls would then stop.
I dont know where you got the number of 17000 missing persons - i guess form Aladin follower hassan nassarala...anyway even if true, it isnt enough apparently. mybe you need to ''miss' another 17K to get your houise in order,,maybe? i can tell you that whenever i visit isreal i hear more desdain about lebanon and its lebanese - Shaite, Maronites and dsruse - and they should be the last to benefit from any breakout of peace in the middle esat. You lot come last even behind the Syrians. that is a fact, mr Mazen.
The long arm of Israel you said? do you mean for destruction and assassination, or for charity and good will? I guess you have a bit of megalomania Peter, you even write your name all in caps.
These soldiers might have stayed in lebanon by their own will, it is a beautiful hospitable country you know! If you want your soldiers back, do not send them to lebanon.
If it is not your artillery (which you don't dare terrorize us with any longer), it is your fighter jets making sonic booms (for as long as you can still do this). Yes, Israel's latest "invention" is the Ron Arad calls. We receive these calls on a regular basis in Lebanon. What a nuiscance !!!
Offering huge rewards attracts only money grubbing scum. Offering huge monetary rewards in itself is an act of corruption. The only incentive in the case of missing people should be to put the missing persons families mind at peace. Nothing else and I mean absolutely nothing else will solve this issue for the simple reason even if money is eventually paid out it will most likely go to those who were involved or silent witnesses to the original act .
lebanon is known to be a hospitable place, so maybe they are staying by their own will ;) to be on the safe side however, and if u want your soldiers back, do not send them to lebanon. shalom.
They had been the best hope of obtaining info on Arg ,Israeli Lefties burried this chance.
I thought Hisboallah said RON was eaten by Leopards while escaping So what is Hisboallah so afraid of? Did they give us a bogus report?
I thought Hisboallah said RON was eaten by Leopards while escaping So what is Hisboallah so afraid of? Did they give us a bogus report?
It is way past the time when Lebanon should be officially renamed Hezbollahnon.
while he was bombing Lebanon. What do you expect? that we hold a vigil for him? Keep in mind that there are still 17,000 missing Lebanese dragged out from their homes during the war in Lebanon. A matter of priorities that is all what it boils down to..
while he was bombing Lebanon. What do you expect? that we hold a vigil for him? Keep in mind that there are still 17,000 missing Lebanese dragged out from their homes during the war in Lebanon. A matter of priorities that is all what it boils down to..
from the long arm of Israel