Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday his decision to appoint Yaron Bloom as the new coordinator for negotiating the return of Israeli soldiers held captive by Hamas resistance movement in Gaza.
Netanyahu spoke with the families of the captive soldiers Hisham al-Sayed Abera Mengistu Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin and updated them of the appointment before he emphasized his commitment to the return of their sons home.
Bloom served for many years in the Shin Bet security service and during his last years in the Shin Bet was a member of the small team that conducted the negotiations and brought about the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Bloom holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in International Relations. He is a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Terrorism of the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya serves as an adviser on security and terrorism and serves on the board of directors in several companies.
“I thank the prime minister for his trust” said Bloom following the announcement of his appointment. “I see this role he has given me as a national mission of the highest order.”
Last August former coordinator Yair Lotan announced he was resigning from his post. After performing the job for the past few years Lotan stated upon his resignation that he feels very disappointed after Israel’s political leadership turned their back on his initiatives to retrieve the missing and captive soldiers.
Hamas Movement meanwhile demands Israel to free the Palestinian ex-prisoners who were released in the Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal but were rearrested by the Israeli forces afterwards as a precondition for any negotiations on a new swap deal.
