The Israel Foreign Ministry is confirming reports that some of the 12 Israelis being held hostage on a Caribbean island have been released by their Chinese captors due to the successful negotiating efforts by local authorities.

While the number of hostages was reported to be 12, it is not absolutely certain. Both American and British diplomatic officials in the area of the island are involved in efforts to resolve the situation. In the meantime, the Israeli-based Ashtrom Company has announced it would comply with all ransom demands and it will do everything possible to bring an expeditious end to the standoff.

According to Israel’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Amos Radian, there were 10 Israelis on the island along with three Indians and four Romanians.

Ashtrom is heading a project on the island which was halted following the collapse of a bank. When the 300 Chinese laborers were informed the project was ending, they took the Israelis hostages and demanded they receive the sum promised to them by the manpower agency that hired them.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)