Eldad Regev's brother fears another Ron Arad

Says Mughniyeh killing increases family's fear but could also be an opportunity.

Eldad Regev 224.88 (photo credit: Channel 2)
Eldad Regev 224.88
(photo credit: Channel 2)
Eyal Regev, the brother of abducted IDF soldier Eldad Regev said Saturday his family was "worried that we will come to the position of Ron Arad's family." Arad went missing when his plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986, and his fate remains unknown. He said the family's fear for Eldad grew following the death of Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh earlier this month, which Hizbullah has blamed on Israel. "On the other hand, I know that many events, even problematic ones, can lead to breakthroughs in talks. Perhaps the assassination could speed up negotiations." Referring to the Winograd report, Regev said "from my point of view I didn't receive answers to my questions on why UN resolution 1701 couldn't be used to bring progress, or their release or [some kind of] change." Regev said Israel had an advantage at the end of the war. "Israel was in a position of power before the end of the war and could have demanded to draft some sort of plan to transfer Ehud [Goldwasser] and Eldad to the Red Cross or to the Lebanese government. Afterwards it would have been easier to return them home. It was possible but it wasn't done." "We are doing our best to maintain contact with those taking care of the issue and to ensure that the issue is constantly tended to; [we are also working to ensure] that if an opportunity arises -it would not be missed. As time goes by, our fears grow. We are hoping and believing they'll return soon," he said.