Gary Fitleberg, December 30, 2004

Two Israeli tourists were confirmed killed in the Asian tsunami, while another 10 remained missing.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said the bodies of two Israelis were identified among the dead in Thailand, where another five Israelis are unaccounted for.

Diplomats and rescue teams also are searching for missing Israelis in Sri Lanka and in India’s Andaman Islands.

Members of the Israeli forensics team dispatched to areas hit by Sunday’s tsunami said decomposition of bodies was so severe that identifying them could prove impossible after the weekend.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg