Body of IDF soldier Majdy Halabi found

Cleared for publication: The remains of IDF soldier Majdy Halabi, who went missing in May 2005, have been discovered in a forest near Isfiya.

A Israeli civilian touring the forest had found the remains, not far from where Halabi was last seen in nearby Daliyat al-Karmel, three weeks ago.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances behind Halabi's death. His family has been notified of the discovery and Halabi's remains were transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, where a DNA test confirmed they belong to the missing soldier.

The discovery is not related to a deal struck between the State and a prisoner who claimed to know the body's location.

Majdi Halabi left his Daliyat al-Karmel home headed to the IDF base in Haifa where he was serving on May 24, 2005. He used an ATM machine in the city, purchased a can of soda and arrived at a hitchhikers station in the town. He was last seen by a relative passing by in the area. He has been missing ever since.

Two days later his family received word from the army that Majadi was missing. A large-scale search operation was launched.

The soldier was officially declared missing on May 30, six days after his disappearance. Over the years, police have established several teams to investigate the disappearance.

The Born to Be Free foundation took part in the search efforts and declared a $10 million prize to anyone who would bring forward information on Halabi's whereabouts. Photos of the missing soldier were also posted online and distributed in Arab countries.

In 2010, the family began to raise its hopes following an interview with Yihya Farkhan, a serial killer sentenced to back-to-back life sentences, who claimed he had information on the missing soldier.

Earlier, in 2008, the family rece

ived a phone call from a prisoner who said that Halabi was being held in Nablus. He noted that he smoked red LM cigarettes.

Last October, the family suffered another tragedy when Majdi's younger brother Adham was killed in a car crash.

Last April, prisoner Moshe Mordechai, who is serving two life sentences for murder, signed a deal to release two prisoners in exchange for information on the soldier's whereabouts. The body's discovery is not related to this deal.