Four bodies reported at Chabad House, fate of Israeli hostages still unknown

An Israeli hostage inside the Chabad center called the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi yesterday afternoon and related that the terrorists forced her to call to relay their demand that the Indian government release militants from their organization currently being held in Indian jails.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called her Indian counterpart, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, to offer Israeli assistance in dealing with the terror attacks.

"Israel, India and the rest of the free world are positioned in the forefront of the battle against terrorism and extremists," Livni said. "Unfortunately, we were harshly reminded of this once again yesterday. The struggle against terror must be a communal struggle, and compels us to improve our cooperation on this front."

Mukherjee promised Livni the Indian authorities would extend any assistance necessary to evacuate Israelis from the terrorist attack sites and in communicating any relevant information regarding developments in Mumbai to the Israeli authorities.

"I want to see an end to this incident and for all Israelis to be freed safely, but the situation is still tense and there is a great deal of uncertainty," Livni said.

The Foreign Ministry's situation room in Jerusalem was in emergency mode yesterday as it attempted to make contact with dozens of Israelis known to be in Mumbai. Ministry officials yesterday said four to six Israelis were thought to be at Nariman House, including two men in the diamond trade. Between 20 and 30 Israelis are believed to be among the hostages held at the city's Taj Mahal and Trident-Oberoi hotels.

During the day yesterday, various proposals were examined to send Israeli diplomatic, security and military personnel to Mumbai. In the end it was decided to reinforce the Israeli diplomatic mission in Mumbai with diplomats from New Delhi as well as from neighboring states.

Livni said a plane would be dispatched to India if needed, either to render assistance or to evacuate Israelis from Mumbai. "We are increasing the presence of our people in the area of Chabad House and across from the Oberoi," Livni said. "We are in constant touch with the police and India's Ministry of External Affairs and we are trying to locate all of the Israelis."

'Pray for the hostages'

A car outfitted with a public address system plied the streets of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim quarter yesterday, entreating listeners, in Hebrew and in Yiddish, to pray for the welfare of the Jews being held hostage in Mumbai. The crisis in India reached the center of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood with news that one of the unaccounted for Israelis in Mumbai is Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum, whose father is Rabbi Shmuel Ya'akov Teitelbaum, the admor of one of the largest Hasidic courts in Jerusalem, Toledot Avraham Yitzhak.

Leibish Teitelbaum, who lives in Mea Shearim, flew to Mumbai with Ben-Tzion Korman of Bat Yam to work as kashruth supervisors in factories that supply meals to foreign airlines. On Wednesday night the two were seen leaving a hotel near Chabad House, and have not been heard from since.

Yair Ettinger contributed to this report.