Israel is making strenuous efforts through diplomatic channels to obtain the release of three members of the Israeli mission in Beirut captured by Syrian forces today after their car apparently strayed into Syrian-held territory north of the Lebanese capital. There was no immediate indication of where the three Israelis were being held or what Syria planned to do with them.
The three men were identified as Eban Florentine, Shmuel Roza and Nachum Nesher. They were described here as administrative staff members of the Israeli liaison office to the Lebanese government. Their status as diplomats is uncertain inasmuch as Israel and Lebanon have never had a formal exchange of diplomats.
Damascus radio claimed today that the Israelis were on a sabotage mission and confirmed their capture. Israeli sources said the Syrians will be held responsible for their safety. Israel reportedly is working through the Lebanese government and the good offices of friendly powers to have them released. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Premier Yitzhak Shamir had taken personal charge of efforts to free the men.
(In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Alan Romberg said that “Israel has been in touch” with the U.S. on the incident and that the U.S. is “exploring how we can be helpful.” He had no further comment and said he knew no details.)
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING CAPTURE NOT CLEAR
The circumstances surrounding the capture of the men are not clear. According to sources here they left the Israeli liaison office in Dbaiyeh, just north of Beirut, on a sightseeing trip to the ancient port of Byblos, about 25 kilometers north of the capital.
For reasons unknown here, their car passed through a Lebanese army roadblock and a roadblock manned by a pro-Syrian militia. Several kilometers further on they approached a Syrian roadblock and on seeing the Syrian flag, tried to turn back.
According to one report, their car overturned and the three men were seized by Syrian soldiers while attempting to escape on foot. Other reports said they were held by Lebanese soldiers who turned them over to the Syrians, either freely or because they were forced to.
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