It has been learned that the Israel Air Force Hercules transport plane sent to Turkey to bring back survivors and the bodies of the victims of the Istanbul suicide bombing attack was stripped of identifying symbols.
According to a Walla News report, the ‘Shimshon’ as it is called in Israel, was dispatched to Turkey but without displaying any symbols of the IAF or the plane’s squadron as the IDF made the decision to remove the symbols to avoid security friction in the Istanbul Airport where medical and rescue teams landed as well, under the command of Colonel Yair Barkat.
The Shimshon, number 662, is the same plane that was used in Nepal during the IAF response to the earthquake in April 2015. In that case the plan arrived with the IAF symbols proudly displayed but it was decided such a move would be unwise in Turkey today considering the tense situation, especially the Magen David.
Prior to taking off from Turkey with the bodies on board, a short service including the recitation of Tehillim was held and kaddish was recited.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Can someone explain why when the neture karte remove the Israeli symbol it is a chilul hashem and when Israeli army does the same think then it is a kidush hashem?
#1 if you can’t figure out the obvious difference, then there is a problem. The IAF removing their symbol is Humility expressed for the sake of Peace. To the converse Neturai Karta’s removal is Hate within the Jewish Nation itself. If you still don’t understand, I’m just afraid their simply isn’t any hope.
It is the machshova behind the mitzva that makes the difference.