The bodies of the victims of the Otzar HaTorah School terror attack in Toulouse France are on their way to Eretz HaKodesh for Kvura.

Earlier in the day, Bituach Leumi announced that because Rav Yonatan Sandler was not a citizen, the law does not permit granting him “terror victim status” which is accompanied by many government payments for the family, including the flight and all funeral expenses.

Zaka’s Yehuda Meshi-Zahav immediately began contacting government officials upon learning of the alarming situation, aware that Bituach Leumi was simply acting in accordance to the law.

Nevertheless, he is aware that there is always room for granting an exception and he began speaking with officials in Bituach Leumi, the Prime Minister’s Office and with Interior Minister Eli Yishai to name a few. Ultimately, he was successful and Baruch Hashem the niftar is being officially recognized as a terror victim by Bituach Leumi, which will not only see to covering the expenses of the flight, burial plot and levaya, but benefits for the family later on which will be critical due to the tragedy that has befallen them.

The bodies were flown from Toulouse on a military flight to Paris where they will be loaded onto a flight for Eretz Yisrael, explained to arrive during the early morning hours on Wednesday, 27 Adar 5772. French officials have done everything possible to give the victims the upmost respect, and the levaya in France was attended by the foreign minister.

The Sandler family; Rav Yonatan and his children Aryeh and Gavriel HY”D will be buried in Israel. The other victim, 8-year-old Miriam Monsonego HY”D, a daughter of the school’s principal will be buried in France.

Barring changes, and there may be due to the flights and other issues, the levayas are currently planned for 10:00am Wednesday morning in Har Menuchos, beginning in the large parking lot at the entrance.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)