I10: Israeli M.I.A.s

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Introduction

Every Israeli knows that when s/he reaches eighteen, s/he will have to serve in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces). National conscription is necessary in Israel because she is surrounded by potentially hostile neighbours. These are the facts of life in Israel today.

Being caught by the enemy is always a risk for any soldier. The Geneva Convention demands that captives be looked after humanely, but these rules are not always heeded. Once taken prisoner, there can be no guarantee of survival...

Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman & Yehuda Katz

On June 11, 1982, the fifth day of the Lebanon War, Israeli tanks engaged the Syrians at Sultan Ya'acoub, a town in the Beka Valley. It turned out to be a death trap. Lacking updated intelligence and exhausted from 24 hours of constant battle, an armoured battalion made up of hesder yeshiva students found themselves scattered in the valley, as Syrian gunners and the 1st Division freshly arrived from Damascus, began picking them off one by one from the ridges. Realising the situation, the commander ordered his troops to make a mad dash out of the valley.

Seven tanks were left behind and one disappeared. At least two soldiers from one tank were captured. Sgt. Hezi Shai was held for nearly three years and was finally returned in May 1985. Sgt. Ariel Lieberman, held by the Syrians, was returned on June 28, 1984. Two other crew members, Staff-Sgt. Tzvi Feldman and Staff-Sgt. Zacharia Baumel were never heard from again and declared missing in action. A second tank was under the command of Cpt. Zohar Lipshitz who was killed in the battle and buried on July 4, 1982 in the Jewish cemetery of Damascus. His remains were returned from there two years later. Cpt. Yehuda Katz and two other soldiers were also in the tank. The two made it safely back to Israeli forces, but Katz went missing.

Since then, the Baumel, Feldman and Katz families have been searching for their sons. They have met with US presidents and other world leaders, even travelling to Arab countries seeking information. Two years ago, PLO chairman Yassar Arafat gave Israel half of Baumel's dog tag, promising more information.

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