An Israeli photographer freed by Libya after five months in jail returned home yesterday after an Austrian tycoon brokered a deal for his release that involved the delivery of 20 prefabricated homes from a Libyan charity to the Gaza Strip.
Rafael Rafram Chaddad, an Israeli-Tunisian dual national, disappeared in March in Libya, where he was photographing Jewish heritage sites on behalf of an organisation that documents the history of Libya’s vanished Jewish community.
His last communication was an email he sent, saying he was heading to the Jewish Quarter in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to photograph a synagogue, according to Pedazur Benattia. Chaddad was supposed to board a flight to Tunisia the next day but never made it, said Benattia, whose Or Shalom organisation had sponsored the photographer. Chaddad’s whereabouts were kept secret until late Sunday, when Israel’s military censor lifted a gag order and announced he had been freed from a Libyan jail and had landed in Vienna. The gag had been imposed because of fears that publicity could endanger Chaddad and prospects for his release.
A crowd of reporters and family members were waiting for him at Israel’s international airport outside Tel Aviv when he landed yesterday.
‘Chaddad’s whereabouts were kept secret until late Sunday, when Israel’s military censor lifted a gag order.’
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