Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced that whatever decision is rendered by IDF Chief Rabbi BriGabier-General Avichai Ronsky, it will not impact his efforts to move ahead towards bringing home Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, hopefully alive, or dead if this is not the case.

The announcement that Ronsky was called upon to review the case and decide if the soldiers may be declared dead has sparked harsh opposition from parents and family members, who fear if they are pronounced dead, it may abruptly end efforts to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Hizbullah.

Addressing an audience during a visit on Tuesday to Netiv HaAsarah, one of the communities targeted in rocket attacks from Gaza, Barak stated that even if the rabbi declares them dead, he will continue tenacious efforts to secure a deal and bring them back.

The two were taken captive on July 12, 2006 during a cross-the-border raid by Hizbullah. According to the information in hand, one of the two was killed during the attack and the second gravely wounded. Until now, the army has operated under the premise that the two are no longer alive.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)