Ron Arad remains talks spark skepticism, ex Mossad official says negotiations could help search

Recent reports from Lebanon suggest that contacts are being made to facilitate the return of the remains of Israeli navigator Ron Arad, who was captured in Lebanon in 1986. However, those close to the situation urge caution, with Arad's friend Ronen Meir advising listeners to maintain perspective amid "attempts and disappointments."

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We are overwhelmed with attempts and disappointments.

Meir, who graduated from the same IDF flight course as Arad, described the reports as "somewhat absurd, if not delusional." He noted that they have been "saturated with previous attempts of this kind" and that this "tune always plays," leading to frequent disappointments. Meir questioned the seriousness of the reported channel, suggesting that if the Lebanese genuinely possessed information and wished to negotiate, they would provide a sample for verification rather than relaying the information through a journalist.

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That sounds to me somewhat absurd, if not delusional. We are saturated with previous attempts of this kind. From my familiarity with our enemies and neighbors, this tune always plays, and we are saturated with disappointments on this matter.

Recalling past efforts, Meir mentioned a recent commando operation involving four helicopters into Lebanon aimed at recovering Arad's body, which nearly resulted in significant casualties. He stressed the need to be careful about "fantasies and fleeing into unrealistic areas," despite the personal desire to resolve the mystery of his friend's fate.

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Let's assume that the Lebanese do indeed have information about Ron and want to bargain with it. The best and simplest thing they could do is send a sample so we can see whether there is someone to talk to. To refute it through a journalist does not seem to me like a serious channel for anyone who wants to deal with such a complicated issue.

Meir also referenced the Arad family's long-held position. His mother, Batia Arad, stated before her death that she did not want any soldier to risk their life if Ron's death was confirmed. Tami Arad, Ron's wife, echoed this sentiment after the commando operation, emphasizing that not one soldier should be put at risk for Ron's body. Meir concluded that if the reports held any truth, a sample would have been provided, and questioned the validity of past samples, stating, "How many samples have we already received that we have discovered were donkey bones? It simply does not seem serious to me."

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It is worth noting that only a few weeks ago, the Israeli government sent a commando force with four Yas'ur helicopters into Lebanon in an attempt to recover Ron's body, and we almost left a great many dead there. With all the pain and my personal desire to solve the mystery of my friend, we need to be careful about fantasies and fleeing into unrealistic areas.