Israeli Woman Returned from Syria, in Shin Bet Custody

Jerusalem, 21 February, 2021 (TPS) -- A 22-year-old Israel woman who crossed into Syria some two weeks ago was returned to Israel on Thursday and is currently in the Shin Bet security service’s custody, where she is undergoing questioning about her experiences in the enemy country.

In return for the woman, Israel released two Syrian shepherds who were arrested in recent weeks after crossing into Israel, apparently to spy for the Hezbollah terror organization, and shortened by three months the community service of Nihal Al-Maqt, who was convicted of incitement.

Russia mediated the transaction with Syria.

According to foreign reports, Israel paid Russia $1 million for the purchase of Russian-developed Sputnik V Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines that will be transferred to Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for “again having joined in an effort to bring Israeli citizens back to the country. Israel has always, and will always, do everything it can to bring its citizens back home.”

Netanyahu spoke with Putin twice prior to the woman’s release.

He spoke on Friday with the mother of the Israeli woman who was returned from Syria. She expressed her gratitude for the efforts that were made to return her daughter.

Netanyahu said that “he stood by her and her family and added that Israel would always act to return its citizens,” his office stated.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday night, he stressed that no Israeli vaccine doses have been sent to Syria as part of the deal.

The woman, formerly of an ultra-Orthodox family, has described herself on Facebook as “an internal drifter.” She has previously attempted to enter the Gaza Strip but was stopped by Israeli security forces. She has visited the Palestinian Authority.

She managed to cross into Syria in an area without a fence near Majdal Shams in the northern Golan Heights.