Netanyahu thanks Putin for helping return of Israeli soldier’s remains

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia brokered the recovery of Baumel.

By Deborah Fineblum, World Israel News

The family of Zachary Baumel had to wait 37 years to bury their son. Israel announced the recovery of IDF soldier Baumel’s body on Wednesday.

On Thursday, in a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia brokered the recovery of the missing soldier, who had been listed as missing since battle of Sultan Yaqub in Lebanon in 1982.

“As you know, it was our military personnel who located missing IDF soldier Zachary Baumel’s grave in coordination with the Syrian army,” Putin said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Mr. Putin for Russia’s assistance in returning the long-missing soldier to Israel.

“Two years ago, I turned to you with a personal request that you help us find the remains of the soldiers, including Zachary Baumel’s, and you responded immediately,” Mr. Netanyahu told the Russian president.

“You have done outstanding work and even endangered Russian soldiers for this purpose. I want to thank you, in my name and that of the people of Israel, for what you did, and for the courageous friendship. it is important to us and our relationship,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

The burial of Mr. Baumel, who was promoted posthumously to first sergeant, will take place Thursday night on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.