The Hebrew news site Ynet contains a detailed account of the testimonies of the three Iranian exiles who said they saw Ron Arad. According to the picture drawn by the three - which is being treated respectfully but cautiously by Israeli intelligence - Arad, unable to walk, was held at least until three years ago in a small and secret prison cell in northern-Teheran.
The testimonies of the three Iranians, which were gathered at different times over the past three years and mostly within the last three months, tell many heretofore unknown details of Ron Arad's tribulations over the past ten years. In mid-'94, the Iranians purchased him from Mustafa Dirani, who took cruel control of him in Lebanon, has since been captured by special IDF forces, and is now being held in Israel.
The Iranians brought him to Hizbullah headquarters in Lebanon, and later took him to Iran for a security interrogation. Arad was dressed in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard uniform and placed on a well-guarded truck bound for Damascus.
One source said that while still in Syria, a cruel operation paralyzing him at his knees and down was performed on him, in order to prevent him from trying to escape. He had apparently tried to do just that while still in Lebanon. The operation left Arad bound to a wheelchair. He was flown from Syria to Iran, held in various tightly-guarded buildings, and underwent some long interrogations sessions. No details on the interrogations were provided.
About five years ago, he was transferred to the prison in which he was seen three years ago and in which he might still be today. Each cell in the complex is 20 square meters in area, with no windows but with an air conditioning system. Two 24-hour video cameras are installed in each room, and the prisoners are taken out - one at a time - to breath fresh air twice a day.
One source said that he once asked Ron how he was doing, and received a short reply in Arabic, "with maybe a word in Hebrew as well." Arad was hospitalized at least twice because of heart problems.
Ron Arad was described as very thin and gaunt, with a sad and hollow expression, and as one who underwent tremendous hardships but has strong standing power.
Israeli sources say that the report has "more than an iota of truth."
A rally on behalf of Ron Arad will be held Thursday evening, October 16, at 19:30 at the Tel Aviv Museum Plaza in Tel Aviv.
The testimonies of the three Iranians, which were gathered at different times over the past three years and mostly within the last three months, tell many heretofore unknown details of Ron Arad's tribulations over the past ten years. In mid-'94, the Iranians purchased him from Mustafa Dirani, who took cruel control of him in Lebanon, has since been captured by special IDF forces, and is now being held in Israel.
The Iranians brought him to Hizbullah headquarters in Lebanon, and later took him to Iran for a security interrogation. Arad was dressed in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard uniform and placed on a well-guarded truck bound for Damascus.
One source said that while still in Syria, a cruel operation paralyzing him at his knees and down was performed on him, in order to prevent him from trying to escape. He had apparently tried to do just that while still in Lebanon. The operation left Arad bound to a wheelchair. He was flown from Syria to Iran, held in various tightly-guarded buildings, and underwent some long interrogations sessions. No details on the interrogations were provided.
About five years ago, he was transferred to the prison in which he was seen three years ago and in which he might still be today. Each cell in the complex is 20 square meters in area, with no windows but with an air conditioning system. Two 24-hour video cameras are installed in each room, and the prisoners are taken out - one at a time - to breath fresh air twice a day.
One source said that he once asked Ron how he was doing, and received a short reply in Arabic, "with maybe a word in Hebrew as well." Arad was hospitalized at least twice because of heart problems.
Ron Arad was described as very thin and gaunt, with a sad and hollow expression, and as one who underwent tremendous hardships but has strong standing power.
Israeli sources say that the report has "more than an iota of truth."
A rally on behalf of Ron Arad will be held Thursday evening, October 16, at 19:30 at the Tel Aviv Museum Plaza in Tel Aviv.