Free Republic

Arab media reactions to the Colubia space shuttle disaster have been diverse. While several papers printed editorials expressing sorrow and condoloences, some columnists linked the incident to America's war on terrorism, the anticipated war on Iraq, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. A few mocked the tragedy, with particular emphasis on the death of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon.

Col. Ilan Ramon's military funeral will be held Tuesday at Moshav Nahalal at the request of the family. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other government representatives, as well as officials from the IDF, NASA, and the US government will attend the ceremony, which will be broadcast by local and international media. Ramon was one of seven astronauts killed when the shuttle Columbia broke up last Saturday as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. Eila Eilat, a spokeswoman for the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, said the family chose the moshav's military cemetery because it had lived in the area at one time and...

The Jewish National Fund, in an attempt to fulfill one of astronaut Ilan Ramon's last requests, has begun a global effort to plant trees throughout Israel, including on Air Force Bases. Ramon had made a call from space, more than once, for Jews all over the globe to plant trees in Israel. On one occasion he asked that "13 or 14 million new trees [be] planted in Israel [by] exactly one year from now, on the anniversary of the [Columbia] launching." In addition, JNF will also be establishing a memorial in Independence Park in Jerusalem in memory of the seven...

While some Arab media expressed sorrow over loss of the seven-member space shuttle Columbia crew last Saturday, many publications viewed the death of Israeli astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon as cause for celebration. "Ramon can go to hell" was the title of a column by Hamed Salamin in the United Arab Emirates daily Al-Bayan, who said the Israeli's death "is enough to arouse joy in every heart that beats Arabism and Islam."

It has taken me several days to understand what I want to say about Ilan Ramon. Beyond the traditional role of Western hero - the adventuring astronaut who embodies the Western world´s idea of courage, someone who dares to pioneer the limits of human understanding and human capability - there was something more. It is that "more" that has been so hard to define. But finally, I think I do understand. The Jewish people sent Ilan Ramon as its representative, to join hands with the world in exploring a new frontier for the betterment and enlightenment of mankind. Despite the...

Channel 2 television broadcast footage tonight of how Israel appeared from outer space, as the country's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and his six colleagues saw it on the 11th day of their orbit. In the minute-long segment of film, beamed by computer back to NASA, Astronaut David Brown described the view as he pointed the camera and zoomed in on Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. "This is the country where our famous astronaut Ilan Ramon comes from." Then Brown, said pointing the camera at a small patch of blue,"here you can see the Dead Sea." Then he focused on a...

Israel's military attach to the United States, Colonel Moshe Ivri-Sukenik, on Wednesday said Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was killed in the explosion of NASA space shuttle Columbia, will be laid to rest in Israel on Tuesday. Ramon is to be honored with a full military burial, Ivri-Sukenik said. Also Wednesday, the Israeli memorial center for the Nazi Holocaust opened an exhibit to show the original of a drawing copy Ramon carried into space. The drawing was made by a 14-year-old boy who was later killed in a Nazi camp. Ramon's remains will be flown to Israel next week. NASA...

A charred piece of an Israeli Air Force flag that Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon took with him into space has been found in the Texas countryside, according to reports today. NASA officials said they were aware that Ramon had taken IAF paraphernalia along with him on the voyage, particularly symbols such as the flag.

Remains of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon have been recovered in one of the debris fields in the southwestern US and a funeral is expected to be held in Israel next week, media reports said. An IDF attache in the US has informed the Ramon family of the find, which NASA has confirmed. The reports follow news that a charred piece of an Israeli Air Force flag, which Ramon took with him aboard the Columbia shuttle, has been found in Texas.

The body of the identified Israeli astronaut (radio) The body of the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon killed Saturday during the explosion of the Columbia shuttle was identified and it will be buried the next week in Israel, announced Wednesday morning the public radio israélienne.Le Israeli ministry of Defense received information coming from the United States on the "unquestionable" identification of the body of Ilan Ramon, added the radio without giving other details. NASA launched a vast operation of research in order to clear up the mystery of the disintegration of Columbia and to find the bodies of the seven...

This website was established for Ilan Ramon by a concerned Israeli. Wait for the shockwave presentation to load, and there is also music. Then you can also add your condolences on that site as well, in english or in hebrew. Please watch this, it is a very touching presentation which shows Ilan Ramon and also the rest of the crew. GO TO THIS SITE: http://www.ilanramon.co.il/IlanRamon/index.cfm Pass this on if you find this good.

February 3rd, 2003 Letters of Condolence Pour In from Around the World In an outpouring of support for the Ramon family thousands of poems, prayers and tributes have flooded in from individuals around the globe including e-mails from India, Argentina, Denmark, Australia, Iran, Germany, Ireland, France and from the Palestinian Authority. People of different religions, backgrounds, and political beliefs united to send their condolences following the death of Israel's first astronaut, Colonel Ilan Ramon. At present, over 10,000 e-mails addressed to Col. Ramon's family have been posted to the IDF website condolence book expressing the public's sorrow and pride and...

Send condolences in english or in hebrew to Ilan Ramon's Family, the Israeli Astronaut's family. This email address was created by the Israeli Defense Forces. All letters will be forwarded to the grieving family. The address: ilanfamily@mail.idf.il May the souls of Columbia be remembered.

Rona, the widow of Col. Ilan Ramon, is to meet with US President George W. Bush in Houston on Tuesday at a national ceremony honoring the Columbia astronauts. President Moshe Katsav interrupted his talks Monday with the National Union to speak to Ramon, who said the family is to return to Israel next week. According to Katsav's spokesman, she told Katsav she was coming home to arrange Col. Ilan Ramon's funeral. Katsav conveyed his and the country's condolences to Ramon, telling her that her husband had captured the hearts and minds of the Israeli people. It was a very emotional...

PIONEERS of the space race yesterday paid tribute to the crew of Columbia and called for their work to continue, as US President George W. Bush announced he would attend a NASA memorial service tomorrow in Houston, Texas, for the seven men and women who died. "It's a horrible thing to have happen, and our thoughts go out to the crew's family and friends," said former senator John Glenn, the first US astronaut to orbit the Earth in 1962. "It's important to remember we're not up there to just joyride around, we are up there to do things on Earth."...

Dear Friends, Two years ago, my daughter Kaitlyn and I were on a return flight to Israel from the USA. A layover in Amsterdam turned into a seven hour delay due to mechanical problems with the plane. Vouchers for the various airport restaurants were distributed to calm the weary and irritable passengers, but by that time, the only thing open was the "snack bar". Kaitlyn and I found ourselves sharing our tiny table with a rather inebriated, but congenial gentleman from Alaska. Before long, a slightly built Israeli pulled up a chair beside us. We quickly learned that the Israeli...

Feb. 3, 2003 IDF to promote Ilan Ramon to Brigadier-General By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFFThe IDF reports that it is looking into the possibility of conferring on Ramon the rank of Brigadier – General. Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz, raised the possibility Monday with Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Moshe Ayalon. Top placed sources in the IDF have confirmed that the army's manpower division has already started checking into the possibility. Ramon has not yet been termed a 'fallen soldier' by the IDF, since the army is still waiting for a positive identification of the bodies from NASA. Ramon...

The mind reels in disbelief as reports come in about the explosion of the Columbia space shuttle. We in Israel have become accustomed to announcements of terror attacks. We have even attuned ourselves to hearing the nuances of seriousness in the voice of the radio announcer as he or she introduces the hourly news so that we can steel ourselves against receiving the inevitable tragic information. Particularly on Saturday night, after spending an entire Shabbat disconnected from the outside world, the first moment of the post-Shabbat news is fraught with a special kind of tension. But nothing prepared us for...

Feb. 2, 2003 Arafat aide praises Ramon as 'courageous' By LAMIA LAHOUDThe Palestinian Authority praised Israeli astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon on Saturday as "a courageous man" and offered condolences to his family. The condolences were conveyed in a statement issued by Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. In a separate interview with The Jerusalem Post, Bassam Abu-Sharif, an adviser to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, called the disaster "very sad." He went on to describe Ramon as "a courageous man who dedicated his life for the prosperity of mankind." "Anyone who dedicates his life for better life for human beings is dedicated...