Netanyahu's Office: Iran's Proxy Group Has 'Held' Israeli Student in Iraq for Months

Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated that a Shiite militia group in Iraq has held an Israeli researcher who has been missing in the country for months. Elizabeth Tsurkov, 36, is a doctoral student at Princeton University in the United States. Tsurkov's family and those familiar with her case say that the Kata'ib Hezbollah group abducted her after she left a café in Baghdad in late March and has held her against her will. Kata'ib Hezbollah is an Iraqi militia group close to the Islamic Republic of Iran. She last posted on Twitter on March 21. According to the Israeli government, Tsurkov, who holds both Israeli and Russian citizenship, entered Iraq using her Russian passport. Israel and Iraq do not have diplomatic relations. Ms. Tsurkov traveled to Iraq in December 2022 for academic research. In addition to studying at Princeton, she is a member of a Washington-based research group called the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. Tsurkov's family confirmed in a statement that she was abducted while conducting research for her doctoral thesis. Princeton stated, 'Elizabeth is a valued member of the Princeton University community. We are deeply concerned for her safety and well-being and strongly urge that she be reunited with her family and be able to continue her studies.' The Iraqi government has not responded immediately. A senior official from Kata'ib Hezbollah also declined to respond to an Associated Press request for clarification on the matter. This abduction highlights the struggle Iraqi leaders face with some military groups integrated into Iraq's security forces having stronger ties to the Islamic Republic than to Iraq. Security officials say that Kata'ib Hezbollah is the most significant among them. The abduction of Ms. Tsurkov raises concerns about her potential transfer to Iran. However, according to informed sources, there is no indication that such a transfer has occurred. Ms. Tsurkov, who is fluent in Arabic, is an experienced analyst and commentator on the Middle East. If it is determined that her abduction is directly linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran, it would escalate hostilities between Israel and the Islamic Republic and its supported groups across the Middle East. The Islamic Republic has a long history of abducting its opponents and critics from abroad and transferring them to Iran. One such case was Ruhollah Zam, the manager of the Amadnews Telegram channel, who was abducted during a trip to Iraq and transferred to Iran, where he was subsequently executed. This case drew international condemnation. This article was compiled using reports from the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. A California representative called for the safe return of Jamshid Sharmard to his home. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democratic representative, stated that all American hostages should be freed from Iran. The daughter of Jamshid Sharmard said they want to sentence her father to death like Ruhollah Zam. The father of Ruhollah Zam described the National Security Council as a 'real partner' of the apparatus executing his son's death sentence.