The optimism surrounding the possible return of Elchanan Tannenbaum after almost three years in Hizbullah captivity stands in stark contrast to the despair felt by Tami Arad. Her husband, Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, has not been heard from since shortly after being captured in Lebanon in 1986.
If press reports are accurate, two leading Lebanese terrorists being held in Israel - Obeid and Dirani - as well as several other Lebanese and the bodies of some dead Hizbullah terrorists, will be returned to Lebanon. Israel is to receive Tannenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers abducted and killed almost three years ago by Hizbullah. Ron Arad's name does not appear in the reports.
"The moment that Dirani [a leading terrorist involved in Ron Arad's disappearance, who was captured by Israel several years ago for the purpose of serving as a bargaining chip for Arad's release] leaves Israel," Tami Arad said yesterday, "it means that Israel has given up on Ron." In a rare interview, she told Army Radio, "It must be remembered that some people endangered their lives to capture Dirani, in order to give Ron a chance to return home. Dirani is responsible for the fact that Ron is not with us here. He is the one who captured him, stuck him into a trunk and dragged him all over Lebanon in order to make as much money as possible off of him." [Dirani later sold Ron Arad to Iranian-backed terrorist forces in Lebanon - ed. note]
She dismissed Hizbullah leader Sheikh Nasrallah's claim that he knows nothing of Arad's fate: "Nasrallah is just a puppet of Iran, and the Iranians certainly know what happened to Ron... The Iranians probably just told him to forget about Ron Arad. But it doesn't work that way. Even after 17 years. The State of Israel sent him, and cannot give up on him." She spoke of her torment, and said that her impression is that the State of Israel has essentially given up on him, and that he will remain missing forever: "I cannot live with that. I have an obligation to Ron."
Ron's brother Chen was even more outspoken. Asked whether Israel might be "choosing" Tannenbaum over Ron Arad, he said, "It's not for me to decide whether a country that sent a man on a mission has a greater obligation towards him than towards a man who was working to support his family and was abducted. I don't say that my brother's blood is redder than anyone else's. I'm just saying that the State has an obligation first of all to Ron." (see "What's the Law?" on this page)
If press reports are accurate, two leading Lebanese terrorists being held in Israel - Obeid and Dirani - as well as several other Lebanese and the bodies of some dead Hizbullah terrorists, will be returned to Lebanon. Israel is to receive Tannenbaum and the bodies of three soldiers abducted and killed almost three years ago by Hizbullah. Ron Arad's name does not appear in the reports.
"The moment that Dirani [a leading terrorist involved in Ron Arad's disappearance, who was captured by Israel several years ago for the purpose of serving as a bargaining chip for Arad's release] leaves Israel," Tami Arad said yesterday, "it means that Israel has given up on Ron." In a rare interview, she told Army Radio, "It must be remembered that some people endangered their lives to capture Dirani, in order to give Ron a chance to return home. Dirani is responsible for the fact that Ron is not with us here. He is the one who captured him, stuck him into a trunk and dragged him all over Lebanon in order to make as much money as possible off of him." [Dirani later sold Ron Arad to Iranian-backed terrorist forces in Lebanon - ed. note]
She dismissed Hizbullah leader Sheikh Nasrallah's claim that he knows nothing of Arad's fate: "Nasrallah is just a puppet of Iran, and the Iranians certainly know what happened to Ron... The Iranians probably just told him to forget about Ron Arad. But it doesn't work that way. Even after 17 years. The State of Israel sent him, and cannot give up on him." She spoke of her torment, and said that her impression is that the State of Israel has essentially given up on him, and that he will remain missing forever: "I cannot live with that. I have an obligation to Ron."
Ron's brother Chen was even more outspoken. Asked whether Israel might be "choosing" Tannenbaum over Ron Arad, he said, "It's not for me to decide whether a country that sent a man on a mission has a greater obligation towards him than towards a man who was working to support his family and was abducted. I don't say that my brother's blood is redder than anyone else's. I'm just saying that the State has an obligation first of all to Ron." (see "What's the Law?" on this page)