Eldad Regev
Eldad Regev (Hebrew: אלדד רגב, August 16, 1980 - circa July 12, 2006) was an Israeli soldier, born in Qiryat Motzkin, captured by Hezbollah members along with Ehud Goldwasser on 12 July 2006, in Israel near the Lebanese border, sparking the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. [1] His rank was First Sergeant. [2]
On 11 October, Shlomo Goldwasser, father of the other captured soldier, said that although the kidnapped soldiers issue "went down from the public's agenda, those who are tasked with releasing the soldiers are working day and night to find a solution."[1]
Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, stated on 31 October 2006 that indirect talks with Israel on hostage return had begun.[2]
On 15 July 2008, coffins containing the remains of Goldwasser and Regev were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange. An examination of the bodies determined that the two reservists were probably killed during the initial attack.[3]
Biography
Eldad was born and raised in Qiryat Motzkin. He attended secondary school at the Yeshiva High School in Kiryat Shmuel, excelling in biology. His mother Tova passed away when he was in the 12th grade. Eldad volunteered for the elite infantry Givati Brigade. After his army service in the Israel Defense Forces, he traveled to the Far East. He later enrolled in Bar-Ilan University's pre-law preparatory course. Eldad enjoyed soccer, music and books. [4]
Raid
The fighting began at around 9 AM when Hezbollah launched a barrage of Katyusha rockets and mortars on Israeli towns and military positions along the Lebanese border, apparently as a diversion.[5] A force then attacked two armored IDF Humvees patrolling near the Israeli village of Zar'it with anti-tank rockets, killing three soldiers and capturing the two others, and then retreating into Lebanon near the town of Ayta al-Sha`b.
An Israeli Merkava Mk. II tank was destroyed by a 200–300 kg improvised explosive device while attempting to pursue the soldiers into Lebanon, killing all four crewmembers.[6] An eighth soldier was killed while attempting to retrieve their bodies.[citation needed]
Prisoner swap
On Wednesday July 16 2008, Hezbollah transferred the coffins of Captured Israeli Soldiers.[7], Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, in exchange for Lebanese militant and convicted murder Samir Kuntar and four other Hezbollah members captured by Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War, as well as the remains of 199 Lebanese and Palestinian militants.[8][9]
The exchange took place on the Lebanese side of the border at Rosh Hanikra. Their bodies were returned as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah in which the latter would receive the bodies of 199 Hezbollah members as well as 5 prisoners including the notorious Samir Kuntar, known for the killing of Israeli citizens. Their Hezbollah captors had withheld any information about the conditions of the two soldiers since they were captured on July 12, 2006.
See also
References
- ^ Chason, Miri (2006-10-11). "Kites for soldiers, protests for Olmert". Ynet.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Hezbollah confirms Israel talks", BBC News, 1 November 2006
- ^ Goldwasser and Regev Were Killed in Initial Attack IsraelNationalNews.com July 17, 2008
- ^ "Remains of abducted soldiers Goldwasser and Regev returned home". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2006-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel". The New York Times. 2006-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "IDF releases names of two reserve soldiers captured by Hezbollah". Haaretz. 2006-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "UN identifying bodies presumed to be of Goldwasser, Regev". The Jerusalem Post. 2008-07-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Coffins said to hold bodies of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev taken to Israel-Lebanon border". Haaretz. 2008-07-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^
Myra Noveck (2008-07-18). "Funerals in Israel for Two Soldiers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
- Regev's time/day of death uncertain, possibly circa 7/16/2006
- Banim.org: Official site about the 2006 MIAs (Shalit, Goldwasser, Regev)
- Our Boys Downloadable AIM icons to show support and raise awareness.
- Event of Two Israeli Soldiers Kidnapped - YnetNews