Maj. Gen. (ret.) Shmuel Gonen, who played a controversial role in the Yom Kippur War, is reported under house arrest in the Central African Republic (CAR) where he was engaged in the diamond business and concern has been expressed here for his safety.
Gonen obtained a concession to mine diamonds from former Emperor Bokassa. The present CAR government claims that his Sicamin Diamond Co. owes it millions of dollars. Gonen, who has been commuting regularly between Israel and the African nation, is said to have been barred from leaving and detained there. His family has appealed to the Foreign Ministry to effect his release. Since Israel has no diplomatic relations with the CAR, the Belgian Embassy here has been asked to make inquiries through its consulate in the CAR.
Army circles say the lock of a full-time Defense Minister has delayed action in the matter. Premier Menachem Begin holds the defense portfolio but spends only one day a week in that capacity. According to French news media, French advisors to the CAR government hold Gonen responsible for leaking reports to the press of irregular diamond
transactions between the deposed Bokassa and French government officials. The CAR is a former French colony.
Gonen was removed from command of the southern front shortly after the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War when Israel suffered initial defeats from attacking Egyptian forces.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
