Israeli citizen kidnapped in Ethiopia

An Israeli citizen was kidnapped during his stay in the Gondar region of Ethiopia, according to a report received by the Department for Israelis in Distress at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Monday night.

The Department for Israelis Abroad is in contact with the family in Israel and is working with Interpol on the matter, according to the MFA. The Israeli Embassy in Ethiopia is in touch with local security officials with the aim of securing the prompt release of the Israeli citizen, safe and sound.

KAN 11 reported that the family of the kidnapped citizen, a man in his late 70's, was sent a photo of him with food being withheld. He was also allegedly able to send a voice note to his family members. Israeli media reported that the voice message had him saying, "Help me, I'm in the middle of the jungle. It's pouring rain, I'll probably stay here. I don't wish this trouble on my enemies."

Israeli media also reported that in addition to working with local authorities, the Israeli embassy in Ethiopia is also working with Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to bring the unnamed citizen back to safety. Israeli media reported that contact was made with the kidnappers, who had allegedly asked for millions of Israeli shekels in ransom. The kidnappers had later lowered their asking price to hundreds of thousands of shekels. 

Second Israeli kidnapped abroad in a matter of months 

Israeli-Russian citizen Elizabeth Tzurkov is being held hostage by the Shi’ite militia Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, the Prime Minister’s Office announced last week in what has proven to be an ongoing rescue effort. Tzurkov allegedly entered Iraq using her Russian passport.

Tzurkov has been missing in Iraq since March, but is alive and well, considering the circumstances, a senior Israeli diplomatic source said. The PMO said that it sees Iraq as responsible for her well-being.

A senior Israeli diplomatic source said that Jerusalem is doing “all it can,” through a number of channels, to ensure her safety and return, and has been in touch with Tzurkov’s family. The source would not give details on the efforts to free her, nor would the source say which other countries are involved.

"In our role in Kataib Hezbollah, we will make a double effort to find out the fate of the Zionist captive or captives in Iraq in service of the public interest and to learn more about the intentions of this criminal gang and who facilitates their movements in a country that prohibits and criminalizes dealing with them." 

The militia associated made its first comment on the matter since the Prime Minister's Office announced that Tsurkov had been held captive in Iraq by Kataib Hezbollah since March and that efforts were continuing to get her released.

"The recognition by the prime minister of the Zionist entity of the existence of a captured Israeli security element in Iraq is a very dangerous indicator that must be considered and dealt with carefully and firmly," said the Kataib Hezbollah militia in a statement released. "The competent security services must uncover the networks associated with this entity and bring them to justice."

"In our role in Kataib Hezbollah, we will make a double effort to find out the fate of the Zionist captive or captives in Iraq in service of the public interest and to learn more about the intentions of this criminal gang and who facilitates their movements in a country that prohibits and criminalizes dealing with them."

Lahav Harkov, Noa Mor, and Jerusalem Post Staff also contributed to this report.