The Government of Israel, this morning (Tuesday), 15 July 2008, decided to ratify its decision of 29 June 2008 on the release of abducted soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, in accordance with the parameters specified in the decision.

The Israeli Government adopted the position of the committee of security service heads, as it was presented, regarding the credibility of the report transferred by Hizbullah on the fate of missing navigator Ron Arad, and decided to absolutely reject the findings and conclusions of the report. The Government determined that the report does not meet the conditions of the agreement regarding the fate of Ron Arad.

The Government of Israel said that it will continue its efforts to receive all possible information on the fate of Ron Arad and expects that the German mediator will continue his activities in order to receive credible information on the fate of the missing navigator. In its decision, the Israeli Government also thanked the UN Secretary General’s mediator and the German government for the great effort they invested in formulating the arrangement for the return of the abducted soldiers.