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Last update - 22:21 22/12/2003
Colombian rebels release captives, among them 4 Israelis
By Nathan Guttman and Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and Agencies

Colombian ELN (National Liberation Army) rebels on Monday released four Israelis and a Briton they kidnapped 100 days ago, handing them over to a church-led humanitarian commission.

Benny Daniel, Ido Guy, Erez Altawil and Orpaz Ohayon and Briton Mark Henderson appeared in good health as they boarded helicopters in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, the Israeli ambassador said.

"It's something that we've all been waiting for three months. And now it's finally going to happen," Henderson told Reuters at the secret jungle handoff site shortly before embarking.

A military helicopter picked up the five, and was flying them to a military airport, where they will be welcomed by their families and embassy representatives. Afterwards they will be flown to Bogota.

The ELN group said Sunday that the abduction was a success because it brought an international humanitarian delegation to examine the living conditions of the residents of Sierre Nevada.

Priest Dario Echeverry, the senior Catholic church representative in Colombia working to the free the tourists, said Sunday that the ELN rebels told him that the release process had begun. He said that he was told by the ELN that the five were heading to the release point.

The tourists were kidnapped by ELN rebels in September in Colombia's northern Sierra Nevada mountains, near the jungle ruins of an ancient Indian city, and have been held hostage since.

"The ELN has committed itself, and we're going to honor our word on the liberation," said top ELN commander Nicolas Rodriguez, also known by his rebel war name Gabino. Rodriguez, who has asked for a cease-fire to allow for the tourists' safe release, blasted "the government's adamant refusal to open a corridor that would allow for the liberation."

Colombian General Alberto Ospina said he would act to ensure the successful implementation of the release.

The five hostages were part of a group of 15 hikers who were kidnapped on the night of September 12. Seven of them, including the local guides, were released immediately. A 19-year old Briton made a daring escape shortly after his abduction near Colombia's "Lost City." The others were held in a forest camp, after being forced to march for hours, suffering from exhaustion, lack of food and mosquito bites.

About six weeks after the abduction the Israelis were separated from the others as punishment for trying to escape. They were recaptured about one hour's walk from the camp. The rebels released two other hostages - a Spaniard and a German - in late November and had promised to free the remaining five before Christmas.

The parents of Ido Guy, of Haifa, left for Colombia on Saturday night. Relatives of Benny Daniel and Orpaz Ohayon were already in Colombia, awaiting their release. Miriam and Benny Altawil, the parents of Erez, were to leave for Colombia on Sunday night. "I'm optimistic, but don't believe anything until I see my son," his mother said.

The hikers had ignored warnings not to travel to Colombia, the No. 1 country in the world for kidnappings.


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