Iran aims to free Elizabeth Tsurkov in exchange for Iranian operatives held by Israel: sources

Russian-Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped by allegedly an Iran-backed Shia militia in Iraq to pressure Israel to make a deal with Iran in which she would be released in exchange for several Iranian operatives held by Israel, according to exclusive information obtained by The New Arab from an Iraqi source close to the ruling elites in both Iraq and Iran. 

The Israeli prime minister's office early this month stated that Tsurkov has been missing in Iraq for several months and is being allegedly held by Kataeb Hezbollah, a paramilitary group that is one of the elite factions closest to Iran. 

Tsurkov had visited Iraq "on her Russian passport at her own initiative according to work on her doctorate and academic research on behalf of Princeton University in the US", the statement said. "Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive, and we hold Iraq responsible for her safety and well-being". 

The source, who spoke anonymously, refused to elaborate further due to the issue's sensitivity.

Kataeb Hezbollah suggested that it was not involved in her disappearance. The group said it was doing everything it could to uncover the fate of "Zionist hostage or hostages" in the country.

Asharq Al-Awsat, a London-based Arabic daily, reported on 9 July that Tsurkov had been kidnapped by Kataeb Hezbollah to pressure Israel to release an Iranian operative held by Israel, reported citing sources close to the Iraqi militias, Iraqi MPs and intelligence.

The newspaper also reported that Tsurkov is believed to be held in Iraq or Iran.  

لازلنا مع موضوع الجاسوسة الاسرائيلية(إليزابيث تسوركوف) وعلاقتها بقيادات التيار الصدري
لاحظ جنابك بصوت طارق حرب شلون الموساد الصهيوني مخترقهم من الوريد إلى الوريد وهو من يحركهم
لاحظ الموسيقى معاك على أساس لقاء مفكرين وكذا هههههههه
مقتدى جاي تشوف لو مشغول حضرتك@Mu_AlSadr https://t.co/0qooI395KG pic.twitter.com/cLGEhHgZBa

— حسين الخزعلي (@Hussein_khzali) July 6, 2023

Since that report, Iraqi authorities have refused to talk about the issue. The spokesman for the Iraqi government, Basim Al-Awadi, on 7 July told state media that the government is investigating the issue without elaborating further. 

TNA has contacted Al-Awadi and the spokesperson of Iraq's foreign ministry, Ahmed al-Sahaf, but both did not respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, Iraqis on social media platforms have been divided into two groups regarding the researcher and her abduction. 

While some Iraqis are sympathetic to her and say she should be freed soon since she was only a researcher and was friendly to the people. Others, however, alleged that she had more nefarious aims and was working for Israel's notorious Mossad agency despite no evidence.  

Tsurkov was a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at Princeton University and a researcher at the Forum for Regional Thinking in Israel and the Newlines Institute in Washington. 

Previous tweets by Tsurkov in which she had noted her background working in Israel's intelligence departments served as proof by supporters of the militia that "she is an active member in Mossad."  

On Sunday, Israeli Channel 12 news, quoting unnamed Arab sources that "Tsurkov initiated the meeting with her kidnappers as part of her doctoral research on Shia movements in Iraq, focused on the movement of Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada Sadr."

The channel also alleged that Tsurkov herself contacted a man called Ahmad Alawani, asking to arrange a meeting with his cousin Muhammad Alawani, a senior official in Kataeb Hezbollah.

The two men then reportedly kidnapped her after discovering her Israeli nationality and tried to transfer her to Iran.