An Israeli Druze man who recently discovered the bodily remains of a soldier is demanding a 10 million U.S. dollars prize originally promised by a private foundation, local media reported Monday.

Ibrahim Kozli found the body of Pvt. Majdi Halabi, a soldier who went missing under mysterious circumstances in May 2005, while hiking in the woods near the northern village of Usfiya two weeks ago.

Last Thursday, the military announced that forensic experts matched the remains with the soldier's DNA, capping a long saga that transfixed the Israeli public.

Kozli, 26, reportedly a childhood friend of the late soldier, has hired a lawyer to collect the 10 million dollars reward previously offered by the Born to be Free Foundation to anyone who would provide valid information on his whereabouts.

"I deserve the reward and will not give up the money," Kozli told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The foundation, however, has recently suspended its activities, after losing the 2.5 million dollars annual funding it received from the Defense Ministry for leading the efforts to locate Halabi, as well as other missing Israeli soldiers.

A foundation official said the claimant should turn to the government for the prize.

Kozli and his attorney, Wajdi Ka'abiyeh, said that a suit is underway.

"We intend to directly approach the Defense Ministry and demand the money, a hefty portion of which will be donated to Halabi's family and other families of missing soldiers," Ka'abiyeh told Yedioth Ahronoth.

He emphasized that the suit will also focus on "the need to keep promises," especially under circumstances that involve missing servicemen.

"Otherwise people won't believe organizations offering rewards and won't continue searching," said Ka'abiyeh.

Meanwhile, the Israel Police and an army unit tasked with locating missing soldiers on Sunday continued their investigation into the circumstances of Halabi's demise.

Investigators said they plan to soon widen their searches in the area where the body was found, in hopes of finding new evidence that would help seal the case.