Israel and Lebanon Hold Secret Talks on Returning Remains of 12 Jewish Leaders

Nearly forty years after their abduction and murder in Lebanon, Israel and Lebanon are engaged in quiet negotiations, with U.S. assistance, to locate the burial sites of 12 Jewish community leaders and return their remains to their families. These sensitive discussions, which have been ongoing for months, have already led to the exchange of information and ground investigations. The progress in these talks was marked by Israel's release of five Lebanese citizens held in Israel, who were determined not to be involved in terrorism.

The issue was significantly raised during recent talks in Rome, where Israel's Coordinator for Captives and Missing Persons, Maj. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, presented a demand for tangible progress in locating the 12 murdered individuals. Israel has requested "reliable information" and concrete steps, and the Lebanese side has reportedly begun fulfilling these requests. Israel has provided Lebanon with intelligence, including maps and photographs of potential burial sites, and has observed Lebanese authorities conducting searches based on this information.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed his involvement in advancing the effort to locate and return the remains of the Jewish leaders, who were kidnapped and murdered by terrorist organizations in the mid-1980s. Netanyahu has reportedly been engaged with this issue for decades. The current effort, which began before formal negotiations with Lebanon, involved building an intelligence dossier with aerial photos and maps. As the relationship shifted towards negotiation, Israel saw an opportunity to integrate this historical issue into direct dialogue.

Israel insisted on anchoring the search for the missing within the framework of understandings discussed with Lebanon. Hirsch presented documents and maps to the Lebanese team, demanding progress on the ground, and Israel continues to monitor Lebanon's actions. Key figures involved include Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Yael Lempert, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and intelligence officials, alongside Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Hala Hraizi and U.S. State Department officials.

Behind the diplomatic and intelligence efforts are the families who have awaited information for decades. The Israeli coordinator for captives and missing persons is in contact with most of these families, some residing in Israel and others abroad. While progress has been made, Israeli officials emphasize that the path ahead is still long, but consider the current developments a positive start. Future negotiations in Rome are expected to include this issue.