French police are making a final identification of the body of a man matching the description of a missing Israeli defense official stationed in France. On Wednesday, passersby spotted the body floating in the Seine River near the city of Rouen, in northwest France.
The Israeli official, David Dahan, was the deputy director of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Paris bureau. He handled purchases throughout Europe of military equipment for Israel's security forces. Dahan disappeared mysteriously after leaving his Paris apartment, where he lived alone, shortly after midnight on January 22, 2007.
French police believe that Dahan, who was 54 years old, parked his car near the Seine and took his own life.
In recent days, Dahan's car was found abandoned near the Seine and French police divers, aided by a ten-member Israeli team from the ZAKA organization, have been conducting extensive searches in the freezing waters.
French police believe that Dahan, who was 54 years old, parked his car near the Seine and took his own life. They reported finding notes left behind by the Israeli that alluded to past depression and included a request for "forgiveness," but were not explicit about the intention to commit suicide. Due to the sensitive nature of Dahan's position, neither Israeli nor French officials have completely ruled out foul play.
ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav told the Voice of Israel government radio several days ago that the organization was sending its rescue workers as part of a compromise with the French government, which did not want an official Israeli security delegation assisting the efforts.