JERUSALEM — Israel released two Syrian prisoners on Sunday in what it described as a “goodwill gesture” following the repatriation of the remains of an Israeli soldier who went missing over 35 years ago. Israel has insisted that the release was not a quid pro quo for the return of Zachary Baumel’s remains earlier this month. Baumel went missing during the Sultan Yacoub battle between the Israeli army and Syrian forces during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Russian mediators facilitated the return of his remains shortly before this month’s Israeli election. The Syrian government denied any knowledge of Baumel’s whereabouts and said it was not involved in the repatriation of his remains.

Source: National Post April 28, 2019 22:52 UTC