The abduction of Elizabeth Tsurkov by Kataeb Hezbollah in Iraq once again illuminates the risk that Israeli citizens with dual citizenship take upon themselves when they arrive in enemy countries for various reasons.
Tsurkov, a human rights activist and doctoral student in oriental studies at Princeton University in the United States, decided to come to an Arab country for the first time, in violation of Israeli law. Iraq is a country for which there is a severe travel warning from the National Security Council.
The detention of Tsurkov by a pro-Iranian terrorist organization in Iraq with affiliated ties to the Iraqi government stems from the fact that Elizabeth has an Israeli passport.
Hezbollah Brigades members training in Iraq // Photo: Arab networks
This is not an isolated case, there are other cases in which Israeli citizens have left in recent years for enemy countries for various reasons and in violation of the law, risking their lives and even risking harm to state security – whether out of an adventurous instinct, business, activity under the umbrella of international aid organizations, the desire to visit their countries of origin and for press reasons.
In February 2021, an Israeli citizen crossed into Syria, was caught and interrogated by Syrian intelligence. During 2022, two Israeli citizens crossed and were returned from Lebanon. And in early 2023, an Israeli citizen of French origin was recently interrogated and released in Beirut.
The goal: expelling the Americans from Iran. Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, photo: from Twitter
Despite the offense committed by those citizens who take risks for no logical reason, those cases have been handled and will be handled by the Israeli security agencies in charge of the matter together with the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry.
Naturally, the efforts of the defense establishment are very varied, using every means, including assistance from foreign countries, but the Iraqi government and its leader are responsible for Elizabeth's continued well-being and security.
Tsurkov. The Iraqi government is responsible for its well-being, photo: use in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright Law
The issue of enforcement and punishment must be resolved so that these cases do not recur. It should be remembered that Iran and the terrorist apparatuses of Hezbollah and Hamas are constantly trying to abduct Israelis, and only the recent assassinations carried out by the security establishment prevented these abductions.
Israeli citizens must wake up and understand the implications of their irresponsibility and the personal risk they are taking while harming state security.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us