Bombing victim's cousin: Jewish blood spilt like water
Hundreds pay respects to victims of suicide bombing in Eilat, Deputy PM Mofaz eulogizes Michael Ben Sadon: 'Murderers cut short his dream of establishing a family and a home in Israel'
The residents of Israel's southernmost town of Eilat are still trying to process their grief over the deadly results of Monday's suicide bombing in a local bakery. Hundreds came to pay their respects on Tuesday as Emil Almaliach, 32, was brought to rest.
"Emil, my son, my son," wailed Emil Almaliach's mother over his open grave as hundreds more came to pay their respects on Tuesday afternoon when the 32 year-old married father of two young daughters was brought to rest.
Doron Cohen, a close friend of Emil's since their days as High School freshmen recalled him as "a talented man who lived life to the fullest. He was mischievous and a good soul, full of joy, which he passed on to his girls."
Emil Almaliach's funeral on Tuesday (Photo: Ruhama Biton)
"It hasn't sunk in for us; all day long I've been getting phone calls from people all over the country who knew him. Everyone is looking for something to hang on to, telling stories about him and looking at photographs. It's difficult, impossible to talk about him in the past tense, I keep waiting for him to pop up and tell me that it's all a big joke. We were a special group and he was the glue that held us together," said Cohen.
A life unfinished
The sorrow was evident in Akko as well, as hundreds laid to rest another victim – 27 year-old Michael Ben Sadon who left behind a wife and eight-month-old son.His cousin Shalom Deri tearfully eulogized him: "Our grandfather was murdered by Arabs in Morocco over 60 years ago. He was murdered because he was a Jew in a foreign country but why must Jews still be murdered today, in our own country?"
"Jewish blood continues to pour like water, where does this hate come from?" he cried.
Michael (Mica) Ben Sadon's funeral on Tuesday (Photo: Vadim Daniel)
"God, do not be silent; God, be not still and unmoved! See how your enemies rage; your foes proudly raise their heads," Akko's Chief Rabbi Josef Yashar said over Ben Sadon's grave, quoting Psalm 83 which speaks of the dangers facing the nation of Judea.
The government was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, who said that despite the round-the-clock efforts to provide Israel's citizens with peace of mind - "we failed to prevent this bombing."
"Our reckoning with the murders is bitter and profound, but our long arm shall reach them," continued Mofaz, "Michael was only just beginning the course of his life. Together with his wife and son he had a great hope, to establish a family and a home in Israel. Vile murderers cut short his dream."
