P.O.W. Chronology
Over the years, there has been a steady flow of information regarding
Israel's missing soldiers. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the
information, we have listed only the information that can be
disclosed without compromising our sources.
Official IDF History of Prisoner Exchanges
Evidence,Indications, and Progress
June 1982
Israeli MIAs in Syrian Controlled Lebanon: On June 11, 1982, Israeli
soldiers Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, and Yehuda Katz go missing in a
battle with Syrian and Palestinian forces near the Lebanese village of
Sultan Yaqub. Two other captured Israelis, Hezi Shai and Aryeh
Lieberman, are later freed in prisoner exchanges in 1984 and 1985.
Israeli Soldiers Paraded in Damascus: Several hours after the battle,
Time Magazine, AP, and La Stampa report three Israeli prisoners on
display in a “victory march” in Damascus. The account was also reported
by the Syrian media and western diplomats.
CBS Reports Damascus Parade: CBS television broadcast the “parade”
of a captured Israeli tank and crew being paraded through the village of
Ayta, near Damascus.
Burial in Damascus: Three weeks after the battle, Palestinian military
personnel and members of the Syrian secret police deliver four bodies to
the Jewish cemetery in Damascus for burial. The Syrians claim that the
bodies were those of the missing Israeli soldiers. (This claim is later
refuted -see 1983)
Interview Outside Damascus: CBS cameraman Ricky Romano is invited
by PLO officer Abu Nidal to interview Israeli prisoners northeast of
Damascus. Access denied by Ahmed Jibril’s Syrian sponsored PFLP-GC
(Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command),
claiming that Abu Nidal has no authority “to show the prisoners.”
PLO Officer: “We Have Israeli Prisoners” -- Allan Pizzey of NBC
interviews Colonel Abu Ziad who claims that Palestinians are holding at
least five more prisoners in addition to the six acknowledged.
East-West Security Council: “Baumel is Alive” -- John Mroz, head of
East-West Security Council, learns from Palestinian sources that Baumel
is alive.
French Dignitary: “Israeli MIAs are Alive” -- Mme. Mendes France tells
the Katz and Feldman families that the Quai d'Orsay has information that
the men are alive.
Damascus Graves Exhumed: On September 17th , the Red Cross
exhumes the four bodies, which Syria had buried in the Damascus Jewish
cemetery, claiming they are the Israeli MIAs. Only one body belongs to an
Israeli soldier -- Zohar Lipschitz -- who was killed at the battle of Sultan
Yaqub.
“We sent Israel the bones of dogs, and Israel may protest as much as it
likes.” (Mustafa Tlass, Syrian Defense Minister, in an interview in Al- Majalla,
London based Saudi weekly, August 4-10,1984)
Sultan Yaqub MIA Returns Alive: Israeli MIA Aryeh Lieberman, captured
by Syrian troops in Sultan Yaqub, is freed and returns to Israel. Lieberman
was in the same tank as Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, and Hezi Shai --
all of whom are missing in action at this time.
BBC: “Baumel is Alive” -- Stuart Young of BBC relays information that
Baumel is alive.
Assad’s Brother: “There Are More Israeli Prisoners” -- Rifat Assad,
brother of Syrian President Hafez Assad, is quoted in the Lebanese
newspaper Monday Morning, that there are other Israeli prisoners of war.
Syrian Official: “More Israelis Held by Jibril” -- Mustafa Tlass, Syrian
Defense Minister, tells Franz Joseph Strauss that there are three more
Israeli prisoners in addition to the 3 being held by Ahmed Jibril’s Syrian
sponsored PFLP-GC (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General
Command).
Princess Dina Brings Wax Copy of Baumel Dogtag: Princess Dina of
Jordan presents Israeli journalist Aharon Barnea with a newly made wax
impression of Zachary Baumel's complete dog tag.
Second Sultan Yaqub MIA Returns Alive: Sultan Yaqub MIA Hezi Shai,
originally presumed dead by Israeli authorities, is freed in a prisoner
exchange between Israel and the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC, headed by Ahmed Jibril). Shai
was the commander of the tank carrying MIAs Feldman and Baumel.
Aryeh Lieberman, the fourth crewman, was returned to Israel in a prisoner
exchange in 1984.
Drug Dealer Saw Israeli POWs: Yona and Miriam Baumel (parents of MIA
Zachary), and Ori Slonim (Israeli attorney and advisor to the late Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin), locate an Arab drug dealer in Denmark, who had
served time in the Tadmor Prison in Syria. (Israelis had been secretly
held in Tadmor Prison in the 1950's.) He claims he saw Israeli prisoners of
war in Tadmor after the Lebanon War.
Jordanian TV: “Baumel Seen in Captivity” -- Jordanian TV Hebrew
language news anchor, Haroun Machamid, announces on Jordanian
television that Zachary Baumel is alive and is being held by Palestinians.
When interviewed in Amman before U.S. consular officials, he described
seeing Israeli captives in the Bekka Valley (winter 82-83). He said he was
warned by Jordanian secret service to discuss only Baumel.
Captain Ron Arad Captured: On October 16th 1986, Israeli Air-Force
navigator Ron Arad bails out of his damaged Phantom over Lebanon and
is captured by Amal -- a Lebanese Shi’ite militia led By Nabih Berri, today
the speaker of the Lebanese parliament.
Letter from Arad: Lebanese Shi’ite businessman, code-named the “Scout”
by Israeli authorities, produces letters and a picture from Arad confirming
that the missing airman is alive and in Amal hands. (Ha’aretz)
Yugoslav Ambassador: “Baumel is Alive” -- Ivan Tosevski ,Yugoslav
Ambassador to Finland, and head of UN Working Committee on Enforced
and Involunatry Disappearances, reports to Israeli ambassador Lador, that
he knows Baumel is alive.
AP Bureau Chief: “Baumel is being held in Syria.” -- Louis Farres, AP
Bureau Chief in Damascus, tells BBC reporter Gerald Butt that Baumel is
alive and is being held in Syria.
Syrian Eyewitness: “I Saw Baumel Alive” -- A Syrian, working for Israeli
intelligence, reports to Israel that Baumel is alive. The source is later
executed by the Syrians. (Reported in “Missing Intelligence” by Steve Rodan,
Jerusalem Post International Edition, June 25, 1994)
Amnesty International: “Reports of MIAs in Syrian Custody” -- The
1988 Amnesty International Report states (page 254): “Reports were
received in mid -1987 suggesting that three Israeli soldiers who
“disappeared" in 1982, following their capture after a battle in eastern
Lebanon, were alive and in Syrian custody.”
East German Intelligence Sources: “Zachary Baumel is alive. “
Arad “Sold” to Iranians: Israel’s negotiations with Amal break off. Arad is
“sold” to Iranian forces in Lebanon by Amal official Mustafa Dirani.
Proposed Exchange—Arad for Soviet Spies: Israeli attorney Amnon
Zichroni representing Marcus Klingberg, a soviet agent apprehended by
the Israelis, receives permission to negotiate an agreement in which East
Germany and the Soviet Union would exchange Soviet spies Klingberg
and Kalmanovitch for hard information regarding Arad. The deal falls
through with the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.
Episcopalian Clergyman Samir Habiby: “Israelis being held in Syria.”
Eastern Orthodox Clergyman Reports: Baumel and Feldman were
moved from the Damascus area to the Beirut area.
Jibril on CNN: “Three Israeli soldiers are alive.”
Egyptian Sources: “Baumel is Alive.”
Confirmation of 1988 East German reports on Baumel.
Time Magazine Reporter Confirms Eyewitness Account: Time
correspondent Dean Brelis confirms his eyewitness account of Israeli
soldiers being paraded along with captured tanks, through Damascus
shortly after the Battle of Sultan Yaqub. Deposition submitted to the Red
Cross.
Russian Near East Expert Reports: Two Israeli soldiers are alive and
being held in southern Lebanon.
Arafat Returns Half of Baumel’s Dogtag: Yasser Arafat delivers half of
Baumel's dogtag to Jacques Nerieh, advisor to Prime Minister Rabin.
Arafat promises that more information will be forthcoming. Nothing further
is heard on the issue from Arafat.
Iranian Source: “Arad is Alive” -- Information placing Arad alive and in
Tehran, is given high credibility rating by Israeli intelligence. (Ha’aretz)
US Congressional MIA Committee: Syria allows a U.S. Congressional
Committee on Israeli MIAs to visit Lebanon and Syria to investigate. After
discovering no new information on the MIAs the Committee requests to
make a return visit to the region. The Syrians refuse.
Prime Minister Rabin: “Arafat Knows” -- “Rabin also told the Russian
Premier that... Arafat had promised him more information about Israeli
MIAs, but has not been forthcoming...fearing it would complicate his
relations with Syria.” (Jerusalem Post April 26, 1994)
Jacques Chirac: “Assad Knows” – “I spoke to my friend, the Prime
Minister of Lebanon, and he told me in no uncertain terms that only Assad
knows what happened to the [Israeli] POWs.” (Jacques Chirac, Ma’ariv April
24, 1994)
Jordanian Journalist Confirms Eyewitness Account: At a Jerusalem
press conference, Jordanian journalist Haroun Machamid gives details of
his visit to the Bekka valley in 1983 where he claims he saw Zachary
Baumel in captivity.
Congress Includes MIAs in MEPFA: (September) The U.S. Congress
passes the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act (MEPFA). One of the
clauses stipulates that the PLO must provide the United States with
information regarding American nationals known to have been held at any
time by the PLO or its factions, as a condition to receiving $500 million of
American aid. U.S. Senator Jesse Helms states from the floor of the
Senate that the only American national known to have been held by forces
connected to the PLO is Israeli MIA and American citizen, Zachary
Baumel.
Close Friend of Assad: “Baumel is Alive” -- Ibrahim Suliman, a
Syrian-American close to Syrian President Hafez Assad, reports there is
information in Damascus that Baumel and Arad are alive. (Channel 1
interview with Ehud Ya’ari)
Empty Graves in Damascus (again): U.S. government officials tell the
Baumels that graves in Damascus reported to contain the remains of
Israeli MIAs, had been exhumed. The "MIA graves," located with PLO
information, were found to be empty. The graves contained the bones of
animals.
Palestinian General: “ We Captured Living Soldiers” -- Palestinian
General Abdul al Chai, tells Arab Knesset Members visiting Syria, that his
forces captured live Israeli soldiers in Sultan Yaqub.
Sultan Yaqub Tanks in Moscow: Russian TV reports that the Syrians
had shipped an Israeli tank to Moscow. After further investigation it was
confirmed that the tank had been captured in the Battle of Sultan Yaqub.
The tank is presently on display in a Russian military museum. (Ha’aretz,
Jerusalem Post, Ma’ariv, Yediot Ahronot, May 19 – 22)
Palestinian Prisoner: “Live Prisoners Captured in Sultan Yaqub” -- A
Palestinian freed from a Syrian jail reports hearing that live Israeli soldiers
were captured in Sultan Yaqub, and have been transferred from one militia
group to another.
Hizbullah Leader Nassarallah: “Arad Last Seen in Good Health”
Damascus Jews: “Passover Foods Provided for MIAs in 1983” -- Yosef
Kalish, a former Jewish resident of Damascus, tells ICMIS reps that in
1983 Mustafa Ahmed Issa, son of the Fatah commander in Damascus,
approached a Syrian Jew, Luz Matzliah, with a request for several “kosher
for Passover” meals for the Israelis they were holding captive -- almost ten
months after the battle. After providing the materials, he was severely
tortured by angry Syrian officials. (Ma’ariv--June 2)
U.S. Congress Passes MIA Bill: The U.S. House of Representatives and
the U.S. Senate pass H.R. 1175 -- “A Bill to Locate and Secure the
Release of Zachary Baumel, a U.S. Citizen and other Israelis Missing in
Action.” The measure, which eventually passed both houses unanimously,
stipulates that the State Department raise the issue on “an urgent basis”
with the relevant Arab governments in the region. The bill also conditions
American aid to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and other
governments in the region to their willingness to "assist in locating and
securing the return of the soldiers.” The bill was introduced by Rep. Tom
Lantos (D-CA).
President Clinton Signs MIA Bill: President Clinton signs H.R.1175 -- "A
Bill to Locate and Secure the Release of Zachary Baumel, a United States
Citizen, and Other Israeli Soldiers Missing in Action." H.R.1175 becomes
Public Law 89-106. (November 8, 1999)
President Bill Clinton Supports H.R. 1175: “...I have signed the Act
[H.R. 1175] into law. I believe it will send a powerful message of solidarity
with the families of the missing soldiers and of our determination to do
everything possible to resolve their cases. We will pursue every concrete
lead to ascertain their fate; we will continue to consult closely with the
families and the government of Israel; and we will raise the issue with other
governments and with the Palestinian Authority....” (From a letter to American
Jewish leaders, November 14, 1999)
Hillary Rodham Clinton Supports H.R. 1175: “I was privileged to
announce during the course of my lecture [the Rabin lecture, in Israel] that
the President had signed the MIA legislation that will make Israeli MIAs a
signal part of American foreign policy, and I think now is the time to press
as hard as we possibly can to get answers and force accountability, and I
agree with that and will do whatever I can.” (O.U. Dinner, New York, December
14, 1999)
MIA Bill Introduced in Knesset: Likud MK Danny Naveh introduces a bill
in the Israeli Knesset that stipulates that no agreement with Syria can be
signed by Israel without Syria disclosing all information regarding Israel’s
MIAs. The bill has the support of nine parties from the governing coalition
and the opposition. The first reading the bill is scheduled for
mid-February 2000.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister: “MIAs Captured Alive” -- Israel
Deputy Foreign Minister Nawif Masalha, reports his meeting in Syria, with
Col. Salah Ma’ani, the commander of the Syrian supported A’saika
(Palestinian) units. Ma’ani was the commanding officer for the Palestinian
forces which had participated in the Battle of Sultan Yaqub. Ma’ani told
him that he had captured living but injured Israeli soldiers, who were then
transferred to the Syrian authorities. Masalha says that he believes that
the MIAs could be alive. (December 31, 1999, Israel Radio -- Reshet Beit,
Bahatzi Hayom 12:11)
Ibrahim Suliman: "Baumel is Alive" – Prof. Ibrahim Suliman, a
Syrian-American national, and a close friend of Syrian President Assad,
states once again that MIA Zachary Baumel is alive. (January 5, 2000)
Hizbullah Leader: "Arad May Be Alive" -- Sheihk Hassan Nassarallah
states that his organization is continuing to aggressively search for Ron Arad.
The Hizbullah leader states that, it is still possible that Arad is alive. (Jan. 13,
2000 – Kol Yisrael News 07:00)
© 2006 ICMIS All rights reserved. Graphics
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July 1982
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