Hebron – Hundreds of people joined the funeral procession for Rabbi Dan Mertzbach, 55, on Friday, after he was killed by IDF fire on Route 60 near Hebron earlier in the day.
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Mertzbach was traveling to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron for morning prayers when a member of an IDF force, signaling for him to slow down, opened fire and killed him. An initial IDF investigation found that Mertzbach did not see the soldiers hailing him with flashlights.
The funeral procession set out from the Otniel settlement in the West Bank, where Mertzbach resided, to the Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem, where he was laid to rest.
Mertzbach served as rabbi for several communities in the Hebron area. He is survived by his wife and five children.
The Defense Ministry announced to the National Insurance Institute on Friday that Mertzbach will be recognized as the victim of a “terror event.”
The classification will allow the National Insurance Institute to provide welfare benefits to Mertzbach’s family.
The Defense Ministry generally reserves classifying incidents as terror events for cases in which a terrorist has carried out an attack causing injury or death.
The soldier who fired eight shots at Mertzbach’s vehicle, killing him and injuring two other people, believed his life was in danger, an initial IDF investigation found.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
What??
BD”E, so tragic.
As for classifying it a “terror event”, that is precisely what it is. It is a direct outcome of terrorism because had there been no terrorism we wouldn’t have all these roadblocks and soldiers wouldn’t be so quick to shoot.
RIP
Thre has to be some way to prevent these deadly friendly fire incidents from reocurring. In 1947, Col. Mickey Marcus, an American who was assisting the Haganah was also killed in a friendly fire incident, as didn’t give the correct password to a sentry.
tragic event
they need to see if they can come up with a better system
however, nothing is foolproof
Burch dyen hemes. Their is no need to screem at isreal evry thing that is done is from hevan this is what we b.d.e. should we not heer of tzar any mose
Nebech, nebech.
That’s horrible.
I hope they don’t blame the idf. after all they were doing their job and they did it well. This Rav, nebach nebach, just forgot to stop at the chechpoint. One can see how Hashem orchestrated this and He must comfort and give the family the strength to carry on.
so so sad!
Israel National News reported that he did not have his lights on and failed to stop when flagged down. I wonder if he thought he was about to be ambushed in the dim light? What a tragedy for all involved.
Mickey Marcus was accidentally killed because he didn’t understand or speak any Hebrew and therefore, could not understand what the sentry was asking him. That is a totally different type of event than yesterday’s unfortunate tragedy. BDE.
It was a terrible, terrible tragedy. G-d bless the Israeli government for doing the right thing and not making that solider suffer anymore then he already must be …and for taking care of the Rabbi’s family monetarily. According to the circumstances that I’ve read, the solider acted correctly. He was given seconds to make a dissecion and acted according to what he believed be to be happening. G-d bless the Rabbi’s family my heart goes out to them.