Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the advancement of efforts to locate and return the bodies of the heads of the Jewish community in Lebanon — figures known as 'harugei hamalkhut' (martyrs of the kingdom) who were abducted and murdered by terror organizations in the mid-1980s. As part of the process, five Lebanese civilians detained in IDF-controlled territory in southern Lebanon have been cleared for release after their investigation confirmed they had no terrorist affiliation, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister's Office announced Thursday a dual-track humanitarian and diplomatic initiative: the effort to recover the remains of Lebanon's pre-war Jewish community leaders, and the release of five Lebanese civilians held in IDF custody.
The Jewish figures in question — 'harugei hamalkhut' (martyrs of the kingdom) — were abducted and murdered by terror organizations in the mid-1980s. Netanyahu has been involved with the issue for decades, dating to his tenure as Israel's ambassador to the UN, the PMO said.
In recent months, extensive operations have been conducted on both the Lebanese and Israeli sides, including field operations, to locate the remains. The five Lebanese detainees were arrested in areas under IDF control in southern Lebanon. Following the completion of their investigation, it became clear they are civilians with no terrorist affiliation and no justification for continued detention in Israel, according to the PMO.
The initiative comes amid ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, a process the Zioneer has covered extensively, including reports on the US-brokered talks and the broader security framework in southern Lebanon.
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