Netanyahu names new envoy to retrieve captives, remains of soldiers in Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the families of the captives and soldiers and told them that Israel are committed to bringing them home.

OCTOBER 21, 2017 20:48

Updated: OCTOBER 21, 2017 23:46

Mengistu, Goldin and Shaul (photo credit: Courtesy,REUTERS) — Mengistu, Goldin and Shaul

(photo credit: Courtesy,REUTERS)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday the appointment of Yaron Blum as point man in efforts to retrieve the remains of two IDF soldiers and bring home two Israelis being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

The appointment comes some two months after Lior Lotan, who served in that position for three years, stepped down.

Blum served some 20 years in the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), where he held several top management and command positions, including as a member of the small team in 2006-2011 that worked on freeing tank gunner Gilad Schalit. He left the agency in 2011.

Netanyahu, according to a statement put out by the Prime Minister’s Office, spoke on Saturday night with the families of the captives and soldiers, informing them of the appointment and stressing his and the country’s commitment to bringing them home.

Blum currently is a fellow at IDC Herzilya’s International Institute for Counter- Terrorism.

Channel 2 reported that Netanyahu selected Blum, even though he was not the first choice of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.