Reports: deal between Damascus and Israel is far from prisoner exchange

American and Israeli reports revealed that the exchange deal between Israel and Damascus, which took place under Russian auspices, went beyond the exchange of prisoners, and that it was related to stopping the Israeli strikes on Syria.

19 February, 2021 10:29

NEWS DESK

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Makan" confirmed that the Israeli woman released by the Damascus government as part of this deal is a resident of Modi'in Illit settlement, and two weeks ago, she illegally crossed the Syrian border, adding that the woman returned to Israel via Moscow.

The authority indicated that an Israeli doctor examined the woman upon her return to the country, and confirmed that she is in good condition.

Mystery still surrounds the motives for crossing the Syrian border by this woman, who was reported to be at the age of 25 and left the ultra-Orthodox community.

For his part, the American "Axios" website revealed, citing Israeli sources, as saying that the woman had studied Arabic and was previously prevented from crossing the Gaza Strip borders.

The website stated that the woman entered the Syrian lands through the occupied Golan and reached a local village, where she began to speak with the local population, and the Damascus government was informed of this matter.

The site indicated that Syrian officials initially suggested that the woman had entered the country to engage in espionage activities, and she was interrogated by officers in the Damascus intelligence services, but it soon became clear that she was civilian.

Damascus informed the Russian military of the incident, and Moscow, in turn, contacted Israel, which requested an exchange deal.

The Syrians reportedly handed over the woman a few days ago, as Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabat visited Moscow last Wednesday to meet her.

The American website indicated that Russia tried to expand the agenda of consultations on the exchange, and asked Israel to stop its raids on Syria, stressing that it impedes the delivery of humanitarian aid.

For its part, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that the deal included securing the return of the Israeli who crossed the border into Syria, in addition to an unusual clause that was not disclosed, because it was likely to anger the Israeli public.

J.O