Major-General (reserves) Eyal Ben-Reuven, who heads the Born Free non profit organization on behalf of Ron Arad stated on Sunday that based on the information contained in the Hizbullah report; we may not declare Ron Arad dead.

Ben-Reuven stated that to the best of his knowledge, the Hizbullah report does not contain any new information and as such, there is no basis to change Arad’s status from missing in action.

Ben-Reuven stated he does not accept the call of senior officials and former senior officials to declare Arad dead, stating the criteria for such a move is not contained in the Hizbullah report. He added the fact that Arad fell captive 22 years ago is not at all relevant –  explaining there are official channels responsible for obtaining reliable information and we must rely on them, not on Hizbullah.

Regarding Samir Kuntar, Ben-Reuven stated he belongs behind bars in Israel but given the sensitivity of the current situation, we are compelled to bring Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser back home, dead or alive, even if doing so compels us to release Kuntar. He stated we do not gain deterrence effectiveness against future kidnappings by holding ‘trump cards’, adding the deterrence is only achieved by military action. As such he concluded, the Second Lebanon War was indeed justified.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)