MIA UK INFO

Zachary Baumel
10833 Days Missing

Tzvi Feldman
10833 Days Missing

Yehuda Katz
10833 Days Missing

Ron Arad
9245 Days Missing

Guy Hever
5287 Days Missing

Majdy Halabi
2450 Days Missing

The MIA fall into three sections:

Gilad Schalit - Missing Since: June 25th 2006

On June 25, 2006 in the course of an infiltration and attack by terrorists in the area of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, near the Gaza Strip, an IDF officer and a soldier were killed, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 20, of Hila was abducted, and four others were wounded. Sincethen, Gilad has been held by the Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz & Zvi Feldman - Missing since: - June 11th 1982

On 11 June 1982 Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman were taken prisoner during a battle in the Sultan Yacoub area of the Lebanon. At the time of this action, Syrian forces had military control of the area.

Several hours later, Dean Brelis, a journalist from Time Magazine, reported that ‘something interesting could be seen in Damascus'. Three Israel soldiers were being publicly displayed through the streets of Damascus (on an Israeli tank). Interestingly, a couple of years later a tank from the Sultan Yacoub battle was positively identified whilst on display in a Red Army museum close to the Russian capital, Moscow.

Since that time, there has been a steady stream of information showing that these men were being held in Syria. (Amnesty International 1988 and 1993 confirm this.)

Note: Zachary Baumel is the holder on an American passport with full rights of American citizenship.

Rona Arad - Missing since: October 16 th 1986

Ron Arad was taken captive on 16 October 1986 by local terror groups who began to move him around the Middle East, but principally between the Lebanon and Iran. At the time he was on a flight over the Lebanon, when his aircraft came down. The pilot managed to escape, but Ron Arad was taken prisoner. Some time after his detention Israel received a letter and photograph from his captors. Of all the MIA, the case of Ron Arad is perhaps one of the most published. Recently, the German government has taken a special interest and is hopeful of bringing about a conclusion to the story of Ron Arad.

Guy Hever - Missing since October 17 th 1997 .

Of all the MIA, the case of Guy Hever, who went missing on 17 August 1997, is perhaps the most mysterious. He was last seen in the compound of his army barracks on the Golan Heights and nothing has been seen or heard of him since. A thorough search was made, both in the camp and in the surrounding area. With the camp being so close to Syria it is assumed that he was taken by the Syrian Forces.

Majdy Halabi

On May 24, 2005 Majdy Halabi, a Druze soldier from the village of Dalyat El Karmel was last seen around 17:00 in the afternoon. He was carrying a bag on his back, and was standing at a hitchhiking stop near the Hapoalim bank branch in his village, trying to return to an ordnance corps camp near the town of Tirat Ha-Carmel, south of Haifa, where he served.

Majdy was 19 years old when he disappeared. On June 6, 2005, Majdy was declared an IDF missing soldier

“The photo attached is of Elana Levi, representative of the Goldwasser and Shalit family, Bob Carroll, Church humanitarian, Avi and Atara Regev, parents of kidnapped soldier Eldad Regev and Doreen Gerson, Director of Israel Information Centre.

The parents were brought to Manchester by Rabbi Yitzchok Jaffe and had a very successful event with the Jewish Community. They subsequently visited London and attended various events. They visited the House of Commons and met Graham Brady MP and Louise Ellman MP. They also visited Oxford University and spoke to graduates and students. Media interviews were also arranged during this short visit.”

HOSTAGE TAKING - WHAT IT MEANS TO THE FAMILY?

David Waite is the brother of the former western hostage, Terry Waite, who was taken hostage while trying to negotiate the release of other western hostages. His brother, David, understands some of the anguish the MIA families feel when a member of the family is abducted. He writes:-

‘Terry Waite was taken hostage in the Lebanon on 20 January 1987, and released almost five years later. Those are the bold facts, but behind those facts lie a mountain of tension, frustration, anxiety and concern as his family and friends waited and waited for news, not knowing whether he was alive or dead for the first four years of his captivity.

When someone you love dies, it is a terrible thing, and their friends and relatives go into a time of grief and mourning from which hopefully they will ultimately emerge. But when a person is suddenly snatched away as a hostage, loved ones don't know whether they should mourn or remain hopeful for their return. It is possibly one of the cruellest things that one human being can do to another.

As Terry's brother, I can only say how it impacted upon me and my immediate family. My life was suddenly changed from being a private person going about my business into being the family spokesman, after being requested to step into that role by the Archbishop of Canterbury's office. My first thought in the morning and my last thought at night was of Terry and his plight, and what I could practically do to get him released quickly without raising his profile so highly that he might have a huge ransom on his hands that we as a family could not pay and the Government of the day had already said they would not contemplate. My Christian faith and commitment got me over the worst, but the whole thing took its toll on me and my family, as we were in no way equipped to deal with all that we were suddenly plunged into overnight, with no idea of how or when the ordeal would end.

Hostage taking is always wrong, and can never be right, however noble the cause that the hostage takers feel they are serving. It must always be condemned as evil, and more just ways must be found by those who wish to bring pressure on others, for political or religious ends.'

Note: Israel released almost a hundred terrorist prisoners to help facilitate the release of the western hostages in the hope that Ron Arad, Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman would be released, but to no avail.

The Rev Robert Carroll, a Christian minister and noted humanitarian, makes the following plea to their captors:

‘My understanding is that these men are being held hostage somewhere in the Muslim world. They have now been held beyond what is morally acceptable. I make my plea on their behalf and also on behalf of their families and loved ones that they be released.

In a world which is associating all the horrors of conflict with Islam, this is an ideal opportunity to show both compassion and mercy, which I know can come from your faith.

I also know from passages of your most Holy Book, the Koran, that great respect is paid to Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew's gospel, ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (Matthew 5: 7 & 9)

He also said in the same chapter, and verse 6, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. For those who pursue righteousness – there is much honour!'

Please, in the name of mercy, compassion and God, let His people go!'