The parents of IDF soldier Yair Sasson, who was listed as AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) from the military, petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding a military burial for their son.
The IDF decided that the young soldier, who was killed in a motorcycle accident, is not entitled to a military burial since he was listed as AWOL prior to his accident. The parents refused to accept the decision and turned to the nation’s highest court against Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
State Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has intervened and ordered the IDF to provide the soldier with a military burial as requested.
Former Chief of IDF Personnel Branch Major-General (retired) Elazar Stern told Kol Chai Radio that the decision is in line with 17 Tammuz, a day of mourning, rejecting the validity of honoring the request of grieving parents. “By deserting the IDF, the young man separated himself from us and he is not entitled to a military burial as tragic as the case may be”.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
Elazar Stern’s opinion isn’t worth ANYTHING!
This is a guy who walks around with his little srugie, pretends to be Dati L’Umi, but has hashkafot that would make Rav Kook zatz”l turn in his grave.
When he showed up at the Kotel on Shabbat about 3 years ago there was such a spontaneous protest against him that the mishmar ha’gvul charged in beating everyone in sight.
Why the niftar mentioned in this article went AWOL I do not know, but a “general” who was in favor of the Gush Katif expulsion, and of imprisoning soldiers who opposed it, telling US who is guilty of “seperated himself” from IDF (hashkafot)- THAT is a sick joke!!!