Ya'alon: Israel quietly working on hostages affair

[drdon326]

In an interview with Channel 2 on Friday, chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said that Israel is quietly working to ensure the release of the two Arab residents of east Jerusalem kidnapped in Iraq.

Earlier Friday, Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat issued a statement saying he has personally intervened to seek the release of two Arab residents of east Jerusalem kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq.

"President Arafat has contacted our brothers in Iraq and other international bodies and friends today to help in releasing the two kidnapped Palestinians held in Iraq," an official PA statement said.

Arafat had close ties to the regime of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

more here

[bemildred]

1. Quiet is good. nt

[Gimel]

2. Publicly

Israel says there is nothing they can do diplomatically. The two are residents of E Jerusalem. One apparently has Israeli citizenship, but that was supposed to be for travel purposes. Both of them deny being interested in Israeli citizenship, although the Iraqi kidnappers say they are Mosad agents. Seems like anything Israel would do would only increase the claim that they are agents of Israel. Therefore, Israel has referred the matter to the US.