Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman thanked Libya Monday for releasing Rafael Hadad, an Israeli man who has been held in the country since March on espionage charges.

Lieberman and Hadad landed in Israel Monday afternoon and held a press conference at Ben-Gurion Airport.

“We should be happy an Israeli citizen returned home safe and sound,” said the foreign minister, who orchestrated a diplomatic agreement for Hadad’s release. “I met him at the airport after five months, and he showed plenty of poise. I want to commend him for undergoing such a difficult ordeal so level-headedly.”

Lieberman also spoke about Israel’s part of the deal for Hadad’s release, which Israeli officials say included allowing 20 prefabricated houses from a Libyan-sponsored ship to be delivered to Gaza in July, after the ship was diverted to Egypt.

“These are logical demands and we will honor them. Where the Palestinians are concerned, we will fulfil everything we committed ourselves to. Altogether, the Libyans pleasantly surprised us and acted responsibly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi said that Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi’s foundation signed an agreement with Israel on the transfer of $50 million to Gaza, as part of the deal to secure Hadad’s release.

The money will be handed over to UNWRA in order to build 1,250 homes in the Gaza Strip to replace homes destroyed during Operation Case Lead.

(Read More: Ynet)