The last Israel war prisoner in Syrian hands, Akiva Feinstein of Rosh Pina, was released yesterday after two years of captivity, at an informal meeting of the Israel Syrian mixed armistice commission at the Syrian customs house near Mishmar Naysrden. Fainstein should have been returned with other Israel prisoners in Syria last July 21, but the Syrians insisted they were detaining him on a four-year prison sentence for allegedly helping Syrian Jews to escape to Israel.
At the same meeting yesterday, the Israel delegation remitted 600 pounds ($1,680) to the Syrians as wages for work performed by Syrian prisoners of war released by Israel since the signing of the armistice agreement. The Syrians yesterday demolished a provisional bridge to Transjordan which they had built during the Pelestine war, near Mishmer Hayarden. The only crossing to Transjordan now is over the Bnot Jaacov Bridge, rebuilt by Israel two months ago.
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.
