According to all members of the intelligence community, the photos included in the Hizbullah report on Ron Arad do not provide any new information whatsoever. Most of the experts surmise that in all likelihood, the photos were taken by Mustafa Dirani [or one of his men], who in essence was the chief security officer of Amal and responsible Ron Arad while in captivity. It is noteworthy to mention that he too was imprisoned in Israel, taken captive by IDF commandos towards obtaining the release of Arad but he was released in the Elchanan Tannenbaum exchange deal.

Intelligence officials explain however that the connection with Dirani, the new photos and some of Arad’s diary do strengthen the connection between Hizbullah and Iran despite Hizbullah stating this is not the case.

The new documents strengthen the theory of those intelligence community officials who believe that throughout the years, the connection between Hizbullah and Iran was an integral one despite the fact that during his interrogation in Israel, Dirani denied this is so. Officials believe that following his release from Israeli prison, Dirani passed the documents included in the Hizbullah report to Hizbullah officials.

Officials are however quick to add this does not prove that Arad is in Iran or even in Iranian hands, explaining that “they are not fools” and they are not going to handover to Israel the proof for something they continue to deny adamantly.

Regarding the written page, it appears to be a portion of Arad’s diary, leading officials to suspect that Hizbullah is still holding onto other portions of the same diary.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)