The six-member committee, comprising MKs from the left- and right-wings, demands that the security and law enforcement agencies grant Tenenbaum's investigators "all the conditions and means that are necessary to complete the investigation and reach the truth."
The letter also departs from normal custom in implying that Tenenbaum, still under investigation, should be sharply punished. "The subcommittee will not rest until the story is totally cleared up, including a clarification of how and why Tenenbaum reached Lebanon, the extent of the security damage to the State, and the steps that must accordingly be taken."
Tenenbaum was abducted by the Lebanese terrorist organization Hizbullah in October 2000, and was held in captivity until last month. In late January, Israel released over 400 terrorists in exchange for him and for the bodies of three IDF soldiers killed by Hizbullah around the time of his abduction.
Chairman Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) was asked today why the committee took the unusual step of releasing a letter that on the one hand does not provide new information, but on the other hand takes a strong stand. He said that the committee members were of the unanimous opinion that the public atmosphere - that Tenenbaum was tortured in captivity and should now be treated with kid gloves - had to be counterbalanced. The committee has come under some criticism for releasing the letter.
The committee members are Shteinitz, Eli Yeshai (Shas), Ehud Yatom (Likud), Chaim Ramon (Labor), Ilan Liebovitch (Shinui), and David Levy (Likud).
Tenenbaum has been allowed to meet with his family daily, but has been held in a closed installation since his release three weeks ago. He failed a polygraph (lie-detector) test during the questioning, and his investigators - of the Shabak, IDF and police - still do not know the answers to some of the most basic questions in the case. These include: Was Tenenbaum taken to Lebanon against his will, or did he arrive on his own volition? Was he tortured? Why has Tenenbaum not answered all the questions posed to him by the Israeli investigators?
A senior unnamed security source quoted by Israel Radio this morning stated that a criminal indictment is likely following the debriefing of Elchanan Tenenbaum.
The letter also departs from normal custom in implying that Tenenbaum, still under investigation, should be sharply punished. "The subcommittee will not rest until the story is totally cleared up, including a clarification of how and why Tenenbaum reached Lebanon, the extent of the security damage to the State, and the steps that must accordingly be taken."
Tenenbaum was abducted by the Lebanese terrorist organization Hizbullah in October 2000, and was held in captivity until last month. In late January, Israel released over 400 terrorists in exchange for him and for the bodies of three IDF soldiers killed by Hizbullah around the time of his abduction.
Chairman Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) was asked today why the committee took the unusual step of releasing a letter that on the one hand does not provide new information, but on the other hand takes a strong stand. He said that the committee members were of the unanimous opinion that the public atmosphere - that Tenenbaum was tortured in captivity and should now be treated with kid gloves - had to be counterbalanced. The committee has come under some criticism for releasing the letter.
The committee members are Shteinitz, Eli Yeshai (Shas), Ehud Yatom (Likud), Chaim Ramon (Labor), Ilan Liebovitch (Shinui), and David Levy (Likud).
Tenenbaum has been allowed to meet with his family daily, but has been held in a closed installation since his release three weeks ago. He failed a polygraph (lie-detector) test during the questioning, and his investigators - of the Shabak, IDF and police - still do not know the answers to some of the most basic questions in the case. These include: Was Tenenbaum taken to Lebanon against his will, or did he arrive on his own volition? Was he tortured? Why has Tenenbaum not answered all the questions posed to him by the Israeli investigators?
A senior unnamed security source quoted by Israel Radio this morning stated that a criminal indictment is likely following the debriefing of Elchanan Tenenbaum.