Man who crossed to Lebanon returned to Israel

It is unclear where he was during his time in Lebanon and why he crossed the border.

Israel-Lebanon border (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Israel-Lebanon border
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

An Israeli citizen was returned from Lebanon on Thursday night, about a month after he crossed the border in the North.

The man, a Bedouin in his 20s from southern Israel, was returned following weeks of work by the IDF, the Foreign Ministry, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and other relevant bodies.

He was handed over to Israeli security forces by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ran Kohav told reporters that the man is known to have mental health issues and had crossed the border of his own volition by foot.

It is unclear where he spent his time while in Lebanon or why he crossed the border.

An Israeli soldier opens a gate at a military base leading to the border crossing with Lebanon at Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
An Israeli soldier opens a gate at a military base leading to the border crossing with Lebanon at Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Kohav described the incident as “very sensitive,” and that Israel had been working on resolving the case since he crossed at the beginning of the month.

In February, an Israeli woman was returned home after crossing into Syria a week earlier. The woman, who had previously tried to cross into Gaza, was returned with the help of Russia in exchange for two Syrian shepherds who had crossed into Israel.