Russian Army Honors IDF MIA Zachary Baumel

Jerusalem, 4 April, 2019 (TPS) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday participated in a special ceremony the Russian Army held in honor of IDF Sgt. Zachary Baumel, who was returned to Israel this week after going missing in action 37 years ago.

Russia was a key player in the process to bring Baumel home from Syria.

Netanyahu received a box in which Baumel’s personal artifacts, including his jumpsuit and boots, were placed, draped in an Israeli flag.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov was present.

Netanyahu thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Defense Ministry for their effort to bring Baumel to a final resting place in Israel.

A Russian military orchestra played a requiem during the service, and the Israeli flag was ceremoniously folded by an honor guard and given to Netanyahu at its conclusion.