[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, i.e. the Mossad; has brought to a conclusion the affair regarding the Iranian Jews who have been missing since the 1990’s. Eight of the eleven families of Iranian Jews who went missing in the 1990’s received notification from the Intelligence and Heritage Commemoration Center that their loved ones were murdered while en route to immigrating to Israel.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu charged the Mossad with deepening the investigation into the disappearance of eleven Iranian Jews who tried to escape from Iran during the 1990’s. Mossad Director Tamir Pardo took up the mission. The Mossad led to an intelligence breakthrough that enabled the issue to be brought to its conclusion.
The task of tying up the loose ends was assigned to David Meidan, the prime minister’s coordinator for captives and those missing, who had served as the Prime minister’s personal representative in the negotiations for the return of soldier Gilad Shalit. Meidan retired from the Mossad approximately two years ago after 35 years’ service in command and operational posts in Israel and abroad.
Upon retiring, Prime Minister Netanyahu had asked Meidan to continue dealing with the issue of captives and those missing and on any public issue that may be required of him. He had been requested to resolve the issue of the missing Iranian Jews.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I send my condolences to the families and hope that they will find consolation in the information that they received. We will continue to do all that is necessary in order to obtain all possible information about our missing.”
Davd Meidan said, “This is an issue that has preoccupied the intelligence services for two decades. Today, it is possible to say that the mystery has reached its end.” He added: “First and foremost, this is a major intelligence achievement in that we succeeded in finding a credible source in a difficult region, who provided reliable information on the basis of which a picture was obtained regarding the fates of eight of the eleven missing persons. Today we informed the families that the circle has been closed.”
Background:
In 1994 and 1997, eleven Iranian Jews, in four separate groups, tried to escape Iran over the border to neighboring countries. During the attempted escape, these Jews disappeared and the issue was left unresolved for years, without their families knowing anything of their fates.
Intelligence sources received information from a credible source that these same Jews were caught during the escape and murdered. This was a sensitive and complex investigation which constitutes an additional achievement vis-à-vis the intelligence capabilities of the State of Israel.
The mission of gathering intelligence and researching the fate of three of the missing (from 1997) continues. Information about the progress in the investigation was delivered to former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar who ruled regarding the deaths of eight out of the eleven missing Jews. This ruling enables them to be considered deceased and starts the process of releasing widows.
Former Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron was present when the families were notified.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
Sometimes we never get to know the truth. But knowing part of the truth does correct false predictions and straightens our understanding. Even if it’s a grim resolution, with faith that we explain, enormous energy becomes real. and hopefully, we can read signs better with our faith, Torah, explained.