On Wednesday, the Israel Dog Unit, a nonprofit specializing in working dogs, held a special search effort was held to locate Hymanut Kassou. Hymanut, age 9, vanished exactly one year ago from the Tzfat region.
The search effort included the use of high-angle equipment to negotiate the mountainous terrain of Tzfat and searching the dense forests and brush in and around the city.
Prior to the search, a meeting of the Knesset National Security Committee was held to receive an update on the course of the search. Both coalition and opposition parties were present and called for increased efforts to locate Hymanut.
During the meeting, the Israel Dog Unit briefed the committee on the various search efforts undertaken. The Israel Dog Unit called for the ISA to be included in the search for Hymanut, as well as for Itamar Schlesinger, a man who vanished near Ein Hod in the Haifa region.
"There is a strong possiblity of nationalist activity connected to his disappearance," said Israel Dog Unit director Yekutiel Ben-Yaakov. "The Israel Police are not allowing us to search the outskirts of the town properly. This committee should hold a meeting regarding his disappearance as well."