Ron Arad's Friends Reflect on His Disappearance and Unfulfilled Last Wish
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Friends of missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad are reflecting on his disappearance 38 years ago, remembering him as a brilliant and resourceful individual. Contact with Arad was lost in May 1988, and his fate remains unknown, making him a national symbol. His friends express disappointment with past Israeli governments for not securing his release and feel a sense of guilt. One friend's final wish is for the issue to be resolved before he dies, drawing parallels to recent hostage situations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Friends of missing navigator Ron Arad are reflecting on his fate 38 years after his plane was shot down over Lebanon.
- Arad, who became a national symbol, sent signs of life for two years before contact was lost in May 1988.
- His friends remember him as brilliant, analytical, and resourceful, with a strong personality.
- They express disappointment with past Israeli governments for not securing his release, especially after the 2004 Tannenbaum deal.
- One friend's last wish is for Arad's case to be resolved before he dies.
- The friends feel guilt for trusting the system and not fighting harder for Arad's return.
Friends of Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force navigator who has been missing since his plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986, are revisiting their hopes and memories of him. Arad, who became a national symbol and an open wound for Israel regarding captive and missing soldiers, sent signs of life, letters, and photos for the first two years of his captivity. However, contact was lost in May 1988, leaving his fate a mystery.
Friends recall Arad, nicknamed 'Choco,' as a brilliant, analytical, and very intelligent individual, despite his sometimes scattered nature. Professor Amihai Ziv remembered Arad's energy and leadership during flight course training, noting his deep understanding of captivity from his time as an instructor. Nissim Yogev, who served with Arad and lived opposite him, described their close bond through shared interests like sports and studies, with Arad helping him academically. Yogev also highlighted Arad's sharp intellect, focus, and athletic prowess, which led some to believe he might attempt an escape.
Yogev recounted the difficult moment of informing Arad's wife, Tami, after his plane was shot down, a mission he undertook as a close friend. Ronen Mirav expressed initial confidence in Arad's resourcefulness and the Israeli military's ability to rescue him, a hope that waned over time. He felt naive in retrospect, believing Israel would not abandon a captive.
The friends express deep disappointment and a sense of betrayal, particularly after the 2004 deal for Elhanan Tannenbaum's release, which they saw as a shattering of their belief that Israel would not abandon its soldiers. They feel guilt for not fighting harder and for trusting the system. Yogev stated his last wish is for the issue to be resolved before he dies, drawing a parallel between Arad's situation and the hostages taken on October 7th, though he acknowledges the emotional nature of this comparison. He believes past governments delayed and ultimately abandoned Arad, contrasting the Israel Arad knew with the current perceived irresponsibility in governance.