What It’s About
The toppling of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria has sparked renewed hope for the families of Israeli individuals who have been missing in Syria for decades. With the leadership change, families believe that answers — and perhaps even the return of their loved ones — could soon be in sight.
Why It Matters
This dramatic shift in Syria may provide Israel with a rare historical opportunity to resolve long-standing cases of missing citizens and soldiers. These individuals embody unsolved threads of history and hopes for their return have been rejuvenated, along with possibilities for strengthened international relations.
The Details
Eli Cohen, one of Israel’s most legendary spies, was executed in 1965. The upheaval in Syria gives his widow, Nadia Cohen, newfound optimism for the return of her husband’s remains, a mission she has championed for years.
The families ofIDF soldiers Yehuda Katz, Zvi Feldman,andZachary Baumelhave similarly revived their hopes with the backdrop of Assad’s departure. These soldiers went missing during the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon, leaving their families in an enduring state of limbo.
The recent turmoil in Syria presents a potential turning point. “This is about national heritage,” Katz’s sisterFrehia Hymansaid, sharing their family’s dreams of a reunion despite the lapse of decades without their loved one.
An Opportunity for Answers
The families underscore a national responsibility, shown through previous governmental efforts such as the 2019 recovery of Zachary Baumel’s remains, to act decisively and utilize this chance to seek information in the newly evolving Syrian context.
The family’s impact remains poignant; their stories urge swift action to leverage Assad’s ouster for closure, acknowledging Syria’s transformation could open vaults of long-concealed truths. These actions are awaited not solely by families but by a nation that intimately intertwines memory with identity and dignity.
The ongoing task for Israeli authorities involves transforming these new dynamics into definitive results for families who have long awaited the return of their loved ones.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.