Two Israelis victims of Ethiopian Airlines tragic crash
The official delegation from the State of Israel, with the personal approval of the Prime Minister, consisting of two teams of ZAKA volunteers from Israel and South Africa are on their way to the site of the Ethiopian Airlines crash to locate the remains of the two Israelis who perished in the tragedy and to ensure a full Jewish burial.
ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav gives the Israel team a final briefing before they depart for Ethiopia Photos courtesy ZAKA
Following the tragic news of this morning’s Ethiopian Airlines crash shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa airport, in which 149 people – including two Israelis – were killed, it was decided to send a delegation of experienced volunteers from the ZAKA International Rescue Unit.
The ZAKA International Rescue Team delegation will be made up of two teams – one from South Africa and another from Israel. The team from Israel leave on a direct flight tonight, at midnight. This, in order to locate and identify the Israeli victims, to collect their remains in keeping with Jewish law and ensure a full Jewish burial.
Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)
Since receipt of the tragic news, ZAKA headquarters has been in constant contact with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Consulate in Addis Ababa and the Chabad emissary in Ethiopia, Rabbi Eliyahu Chaviv.
ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav said: “The members of the ZAKA delegation to Addis Ababa left with the objective of doing all they can to locate the remains of the two Israeli victims and bring them to a full Jewish burial. Unfortunately, we have accumulated significant experience in dealing in a professional manner with incidents of this type.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, went to the Foreign Ministry situation room in order to see the activity regarding the plane crash in Ethiopia. He spoke with the Israeli Ambassador and Consul in Ethiopia who updated him on the crash including the monitoring of the missing Israelis and their condition.
He said: “I have come here to the Foreign Ministry to closely monitor the reports from Ethiopia. To my sorrow, our ambassador has informed us that two Israelis perished in the plane crash. Our hearts are with the families.”
