Mexico Warns Israel About Consequences of Not Extraditing Thomas Zerón

Mexico has repeatedly demanded that Israel extradite former head of the Criminal Investigation Agency, Thomas Zerón, who is accused of serious offenses related to the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in the south of the country in 2014. Zerón denies allegations of kidnapping suspects in the students' disappearance case, torturing them, tampering with evidence, and embezzling public funds. The Mexican Foreign Ministry stated that "the lack of progress in resolving this case is perceived as a de facto protection by the Israeli government for Thomas Zerón, and threatens to become a source of annoyance and disruption with Israel." Zerón is one of the architects of the so-called "historical truth," the official version presented by the government in January 2015 regarding the mysterious disappearance of the students, which was rejected by the victims' families. The students were allegedly kidnapped by a drug gang in collusion with corrupt officials in the police while on their way to participate in a demonstration in Mexico City. The precise circumstances of the students' disappearance remain unknown, but a commission established by the government to clarify the truth described the case as a "state crime" and stated that the military bears direct responsibility or bears responsibility through negligence.