For Release: April 4, 2019
Statement of Richard D. Heideman, President, and Dr. Francine Stein, National Board Chair, on behalf of the American Zionist Movement.
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) welcomes the news that the body of Zachary Baumel has been returned to Israel for a proper Jewish burial. Zachary, who made aliyah from Brooklyn with his family, was a proud IDF soldier who has been Missing in Action (MIA) since a June 1982 battle in Lebanon. During that long 37 year period AZM conducted an educational and advocacy campaign for the return of Zachary, and Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman who were in the same battle, along with fellow IDF soldiers Ron Arad and Guy Hever who are also MIA. We hope they will also soon return to Israel. We continue to also call for the return of the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul who were killed in Gaza in August 2014 and whose bodies have been held by Hamas since then. We must never forget these brave heroes who have fought for the Jewish State.
