Israel denies deal with Syria to take soldier’s remains

By Osama al-Ghassani

JERUSALEM (AA) – An Israeli official has denied a Russian-brokered deal with the Syrian regime under which the remains of an Israeli soldier had been returned to Tel Aviv.

Early this month, Tel Aviv received the remains of Zachary Baumel, a soldier who was killed in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub with the Syrian army in Lebanon in 1982.

Israel has taken a decision to release two Syrian captives as a good-faith gesture in response to receiving the remains of Baumel, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said, citing the official whom it did not name.

The denial comes after Alexander Lavrentiev, Russia's special envoy to Syria, hinted at an agreement between Israel and the Syrian regime as he told media outlets that Israel had taken a decision to release a number of Syrian prisoners and it should implement it.