The mysterious bottom of the prisoner exchange between Syria and Israel

(illustration) Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu did not explain press reports that hundreds of thousands of doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik 5 had been purchased for Damascus in exchange for the young Israeli woman captured in Syria.

AP - Reuven Castro

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

It is a mysterious affair, which was resolved thanks to Russian mediation.

A young Israeli woman, who moved to Syria of her own accord, is back in Israel.

The Israelis in return freed two shepherds and reduced the sentences of two security prisoners.

But a great secrecy surrounds this exchange too, to circumvent the censorship the media resort to a good old technique: they quote foreign colleagues.

Publicity

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with our correspondent in Jerusalem,

Michel Paul

It's the headline that crosses the front page of

Haaretz

, the opposition daily in Israel.

The acquisition of hundreds of thousands of doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik 5 intended for President Assad's regime in Syria in exchange for the young Israeli.

And Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's explanations are elusive.

“ 

I can say that not an Israeli vaccine was delivered in this case.

None .. We repatriated the young woman.

I'm glad we were able to do it.

I thank President Putin.

And, at the request of Russia, I will add nothing.

I respect this request

.

"

The young Israeli repatriated via Moscow is currently being questioned by the Shin Bet, the internal security service in Israel.

Those around her are affirmed that the young woman is not mentally stable and that she is not at her first attempt.

In the opposition, this strange affair is described as a gigantic electoral manipulation by the Israeli Prime Minister just one month before the

legislative news

.

In military circles another question is posed: how could an untrained person relatively easily cross the lines of Israeli defenses on their border with Syria?

Read also

: Israel and Syria exchanged prisoners under the auspices of Russia

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