Batya Arad, mother of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, died last night after a long illness at the age of 68. She was 52 when her son was downed and captured in Lebanon, and she never gave up her struggle for his safe return to Israel. She asked her family before her death to continue these efforts.
In April 2000,when the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of eight Lebanese citizens who had been held in Israel as \"bargaining chips\" for the return of Ron Arad, his mother reacted sadly with this comment: \"I see this as the betrayal of Ron by the legal system. It seems to me that the Court has lost its ability to think clearly. A man was sent to defend his homeland, then was taken into captivity, and today people are released who were supposed to be bargaining chips for his return home...\" Only three weeks ago, IDF Chief of Staff Mofaz appointed a new committee to review the available information regarding Ron Arad\'s fate.
In April 2000,when the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of eight Lebanese citizens who had been held in Israel as \"bargaining chips\" for the return of Ron Arad, his mother reacted sadly with this comment: \"I see this as the betrayal of Ron by the legal system. It seems to me that the Court has lost its ability to think clearly. A man was sent to defend his homeland, then was taken into captivity, and today people are released who were supposed to be bargaining chips for his return home...\" Only three weeks ago, IDF Chief of Staff Mofaz appointed a new committee to review the available information regarding Ron Arad\'s fate.