Posted on 08/05/2005 8:53:27 PM PDT by SmithL
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to prevent Eden Natan Zada (also known as Eden Tzuberi) from being buried in any military cemetery, saying he is "not worthy of being buried next to fallen soldiers."
The security establishment was debating where to bury Zada on Friday afternoon.
The shooter in Thursday's deadly attack in Shfaram, Cpl. Zada, had been listed as AWOL since mid-June. He was to be buried in the military section of Rishon Lezion's cemetery on Friday. Zada's family was given the option of holding such a funeral, or a regular civilian one, and opted for the low-key military burial.
Bereaved families of soldiers buried in the military section of the Rishon Lezion cemetery expressed vehement opposition to the planned burial.
However, the mayor of Rishon Lezion on Friday afternoon announced that the city would not permit Zada to be buried in its cemetery, even in a civilian ceremony.
A statement issued by the Tapuah settlement, where Zada had spent much of his time recently, said "there is no reason to bury someone who is not a resident" in the settlement, thereby preempting any attempts to bury Zada there.
After consultations with Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh, the settler leadership decided not to allow Zada to be buried in Tapuah.
Unconfirmed reports stated that Zada would be buried in the Kirya Arba cemetery.
Zada's father, Yitzchak Natan Zada, responded angrily to the security establishment. He said that in any case, his son would be buried on Friday. "We felt displeased. We were already ready to leave for the funeral, and then they said 'no.' Now we're standing in midair and don't know what to do," the father said.
He added: "At the last minute he can't cancel it, taking my son from me and burying him as a civilian," Army Radio quoted.
Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz decided to appoint Brig.-Gen. Ika Barbanel, deputy general of Pelephone, to investigate Zada's processing from the time he was recruited into the army, up until he went AWOL.
In addition, ground forces Maj.-Gen. Yiftah Ron-Tal appointed a colonel to head the investigating team that will seek to determine the circumstances which led Zada to carry out the murder rampage, as well as the steps taken by the army to track down the soldier, and why he still he had in his possession, despite being considered "problematic," an IDF-issued weapon.
Halutz also requested that Barbanel conduct an in-depth investigation and examine the different claims raised by Zada's family and others regarding security forces' [the IDF and police] treatment of Zada.
Judea and Samaria police arrested three minors from Kfar Tapuah, aged 15-17, who police allege knew about Natan Eden Zada's plans to shoot up a bus in northern Israel and did nothing to stop or report him.
The three appeared before the Kfar Saba district court on Friday morning, where their remands were extended until Monday.
The teens were being charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and membership in an illegal organization.
Among the victims in the attack were two young sisters, Hazar and Dina Turki, 23 and 21-years-old respectively, and the driver of the bus, Michel Bahous, 56. Nadir Hayak, 55, a passenger on the bus, was killed as well. The sisters were laid to rest at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon in Shfaram's Muslim cemetery, and the driver and passenger were set to be buried around 4 p.m. in the town's Christian cemetery.
Yarden Cohen, Natan Zada's aunt, said the family had only learned the identity of the shooter early Friday morning. She characterized her nephew as a "wonderful boy." She said he was against disengagement. "What can you do, he was against disengagement?"
But she had claims against the IDF. Though, according to the aunt, it was not at all evident that Zada had within him the capability of committing such an attack, the family wanted Natan to return his weapon to the army anyway. After going AWOL, he had expressed intentions of not returning the rifle, said Cohen, and because that is a criminal offense, the family had begged him to give it back.
The aunt also mentioned that her nephew had been at the rally in Kfar Maimon, and tried to turn himself in to the police. They were unwilling to accept him or his gun, though, and told him to go to the military police.
The family was taking it very hard, said Cohen. "There are no words," she emphasized.
Yekutiel Ben-Ya'acov, the founder of the Jewish Legion, a far-right defense group based in Tapuah, described Zada as "a very quiet boy, bashful, modest, and good-hearted The Eden I knew was totally normal. He was searching to return to his Jewish roots." Zada was drafted against his will; he pleaded not to have to serve in the army during the period of disengagement, Ben-Ya'acov said.
But someone has to stop for a minute and ask "is it legitimate, is it rational, is it worthwhile, to send 18 and 19-year-old boys who don't want to get involved out to fight?" Ben-Ya'acov asked.
He shouldn't be buried with men of honor.
Doesn't Israel usually destroy the family home? I know I'm riaking being jumped on but policy should be policy.
I won't jump on you. The man's a terrorist. I'm not so sure his family's house should be destroyed (especially given his apparent recent alienation from then), but the suggestion is not without merit. The law is the law is the law.
I'm not suggesting that his house be destroyed but asking why Israel is, as I understand it, not following policy.
"If the situation were reversed, Zada being a Palestinian Muslim that murdered Jews, he would be buried with full military honors and public sympathy, including a special on Al Jazeera."
This is why we tend to have a little more sympathy for the Jews and a little less for the Palestinains /sarc
He was a young boy searching for his roots, but somehow got confused. I was once a 19-year-old. Been there, thank God I didn't have an IDF issued weapon.
They usually do that when they think the family encouraged them. In any case, it is not like there is an epidemic of Jews murdering Arabs.
I'm inclined to agree with you.
Ditto.
Did you notice that as soon as this happened, everyone from PM Sharon down to his neighbors condemned this act of terror? How different is that from the usual terror in Israel?
Terrorism is terrorism, but in this case it has gotten more coverage, longer than incidents of scores of Israelis murdered and maimed by Muslim terrorists.
They had better be careful where they place his grave, as it is likely to become a pilgrimage place or shrine for extremists of like ilk.
Perhaps a stake of leaden iron, thrust through the heart of palesimian vampires will end their bloodlust. Of course, I'm merely being metaphorical..
Very. But Israel is a culture of law (largely because Judiasm and Christianity and secular democracies are cultures of law) whereas Islam is a culture of honor. There's a big difference.
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