Copyright 2003 The Jerusalem Post
April 21
HEADLINE: Those not yet free
BYLINE: Saul Singer
America is celebrating, as it should, the safe return of seven prisoners of
war from Iraq, as well as Private Jessica Lynch, whisked away from an Iraqi
hospital by US forces. The latter seems to be emerging as the most prominent
figure of the war, lauded for her heroism even by hardened veterans of World
War II and Vietnam War POW camps, and with several films in the works about
her experience.
We hardly wish to begrudge Americans any of their joy and pride, which is
certainly warranted to a nation that so willingly and decisively put its own
soldiers in danger for the sake of free nations all over the world. It is
entirely appropriate that President George W. Bush, in a moving message for
Passover and Easter, spoke of the 'special meaning' of the festival of
freedom this year, of the sorrow of those who lost loved ones, and of
gratitude for the returning prisoners.
Yet the Americans who have come home are not the only Americans whose loved
ones are waiting for them, nor the only soldiers who deserve the attention
of the United States. Almost 21 years ago, an American citizen, Zachary
Baumel, was taken hostage in southern Lebanon along with two other Israeli
soldiers, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman.
On October 16, 1986, IAF navigator Ron Arad bailed out of his falling jet
over Lebanon and was taken into captivity. On August 17, 1997, Guy Hever
disappeared from his base on the Golan Heights, along the Syrian border. On
October 7, 2000 Sgt. Adi Avitan, St.-Sgt. Binyamin Avraham, and St.-Sgt.
Omar Suwayed were abducted by Hizbullah. The IDF later declared that it was
'highly likely' that the three were no longer alive, but there is still no
definitive information regarding their fate, nor have their bodies been
returned. Also in 2000, Israeli businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum was kidnapped
by Hizbullah in Europe.
The International Coalition for Missing Israeli Soldiers (www.mia.org.il)
has been pursuing the cases of six Israelis who may still be alive: Baumel,
Katz, Feldman, Arad, Hever, and Tannenbaum. Hizbullah openly admits that it
kidnapped and now holds Tannenbaum, who has been in captivity for more than
500 days.
Though some of the MIAs have been missing for more than 20 years,
information that some or all of them may still be alive continues to emerge
from Syrian and Palestinian sources.
Last month, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with the MIA families and
pledged to raise the issue with the US. Now, indeed, is the time to press
for a complete resolution of the remaining Israeli MIA cases, given the
changing regional situation. As Ori Tannenbaum put it just before the war in
Iraq, 'When this war is over, the US will undoubtedly be dealing with the
issue of terrorist organizations and those countries which have harbored or
assisted such organizations. We are seeking to ensure that when this occurs,
the issue of my father and the other missing Israelis will be raised and
efforts made to ensure their release and return.'
Tannenbaum's family at least has good reason to believe that he is alive.
The mother of Zvi Feldman describes what the families of the other MIAs go
through year after year: 'My husband is no longer well, and I have to take
care of him. He only asks if he will live long enough to see Zvi again. The
pain is so great. I don't wish this on any other family. Every year, on
Remembrance Day, I ask myself what I should do. Should I light a candle? I
don't know. We don't even have this day. I am in the middle of a meal, and I
think: 'What does Zvi have to eat? How is he being treated?' It is so hard.
We don't know whom to turn to anymore.'
The place to turn should be the US, which should openly demand that
Hizbullah, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran resolve these cases, starting with the
provision of full information and access to third parties, such as the
International Red Cross, as required by international humanitarian law.
Those countries and organizations responsible should be on notice that the
failure to cooperate will be seen in the same light as support for terrorism
or harboring Iraqi leaders and weaponry.
In his holiday message, Bush said, 'This holy season reminds us of the value
of freedom, and the power of a love stronger than death.' The freedom of
those in captivity should not be forgotten, nor the suffering of those who
do not even have the bitter privilege of a grave upon which to mourn.