An Israeli woman who crossed the border into Syria is likely to return to Israel tonight

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Captive and missing coordinator Yaron Blum took off from Israel to Moscow this evening (Thursday) in an executive plane to return the Israeli who crossed the border to Syria. Bloom and National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat met the young woman yesterday in Moscow and are in good condition. She is expected to arrive in Israel tonight and will be taken for GSS interrogation.

Transfer of shepherds to Syria

(Photo: Avihu Shapira)

pm IDF forces returned two shepherds to Syria Through the Quneitra crossing, as part of the deal to return the young woman to Israel. The shepherds have been arrested by the IDF in recent weeks as part of a series of ambushes initiated east of the border fence with Syria, after crossing the border line into Israeli territory. They were transferred to Syria after being handed over to Red Cross personnel.

Syrian television reported the return of the shepherds. “Earlier today, two Syrian prisoners, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein and Tariq Rassab al-Abidan, were released from a prison in Israel as part of a Russian-mediated prisoner exchange deal with Israel,” it was reported. It is further said that the two returned to the village where they live in Quneitra province.

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An Israeli enclave on the Israel-Syria border, north of the Golan HeightsAn Israeli enclave on the Israel-Syria border, north of the Golan Heights

Two shepherds were returned. Israel-Syria border

(Photo: Yoav Zeitun)

Israeli sources said that there was hope that the young woman would be returned to Israel on the plane with which Bloom and Ben Shabbat returned from Moscow yesterday. It is estimated in Israel that the young woman crossed the border into Syria on foot, but it will be possible to know this for sure after she is questioned by the GSS.

Our commentator on security matters, Ron Ben Yishai, Reporting Because the young woman moved to Syrian territory at a point on the border where there is no fence, but the conditions of the territory hardly allow a person to cross. It should be examined how she was not noticed in that area and whether it was people from the area who deliberately transferred her to Syrian territory for nationalist motives.

The affair was revealed yesterday in the Syrian news agency, a day after the secret government meeting to approve in principle the deal for the release of the former ultra-Orthodox Israeli in her 20s. The Syrian news agency reported that Diab Khamouz and Nihal al-Makat were supposed to move to Syria in exchange for the young woman. Israel had not previously asked them if they would agree to deportation, and this was one of the reasons why the deal was delayed.

Al-Makat is the sister of the “elder of the Syrian prisoners” who was released in a previous deal with Damascus, while Kahmoz was accused four and a half years ago of planning to carry out an attack on Hezbollah in shopping centers in the north and sent to 14 years in prison. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported yesterday that Kahmoz insists on returning to his home in the village of Rajar, and not to Syria. In light of his insistence he will not be released as part of the deal.

Last night it also became clear that the Syrians turned to Russia regarding the young woman after realizing that she had a certain problem – but thought they could get something in return.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that “we are in the midst of sensitive and life-saving contacts. We are working discreetly and responsibly to address the issue. I am using my personal ties with President Putin to resolve the issue.”

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