The families of two Israeli soldiers captured by a radical terrorist group in Lebanon last summer will soon have proof that they are alive and well. Army sources confirmed today that video-tape interviews with the missing men are on their way to Israel from Vienna, apparently as a result of intervention by the Austrian government.
Representatives of the International Red Cross (IRC) reportedly will visit the prisoners tomorrow, for the first time since they were captured nine months ago by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, a breakaway faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, headed by Ahmed Jibril.
Bruno Kreisky, who resigned last week as Chancellor of Austria, had sent a personal envoy, Herbert Amry, to Lebanon to negotiate with the PLO and with Jibril’s group for the release of the eight Israeli soldiers they hold prisoner between them. The six who are held by El Fatah, the main faction of the PLO, have been visited regularly by the IRC and films of them have been shown on Jordan television which is also seen in Israel.
The two soldiers held by Jibril, both 21 years of age, have not been seen or heard from since their capture. But Jibril finally agreed to hand over the first video-tape interviews to the Austrian emissary. One of the soldiers spoke in English and the other in Hebrew. Both said they were being “properly treated.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of State George Shultz disclosed last night that he has met with the families of four Israeli prisoners held by the PLO who asked him to intervene for their release as part of a POW exchange with Israel. Premier Menachem Begin thanked Shultz for meeting the families.
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