Former IDF Chief Rabbi Yisrael Weiss has denied a report that he was engaged in efforts to uncover new findings on missing IAF navigator Ron Arad.

Rav Weiss did not elaborate, but denied a report appearing in the Sunday (Sept. 6, 2009) Yediot Achronot that he was involved in a secret IDF report and a call to declare Arad “dead”.

Rav Weiss told Chareidim that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stopped an effort to have the missing officer declared dead.

Journalist Ronen Bregman’s report sparked a number of denials from the IDF’s former chief rabbi, information that Bregman seems to attribute to intelligence sources – telling Chareidim Bregman just released his new book on the Arad affair, “Israel Will Do Everything Possible” in which the veteran journalist looks at the state’s efforts to release captive soldiers and just how far the government is willing to go, also addressing the plight of Gilad Shalit.

He adds that while the intelligence community has not located Shalit, it has gathered conclusive evidence permitting a declaration of death for the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Sultan Yakoub.

Rav Weiss today serves as a dayan on the government beit din addressing issues of giyur (conversion).

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)