Barak: Israel will hunt down anyone with Jewish blood on their hands
Defense Minister Ehud Barak speaks in state ceremony honoring Israeli casualties of war whose burial place is unknown; promises families Israel's reach will find murderers of its sons, regardless of time passed
Israel is morally committed to every soldier who gave his life for it, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday at the Mount Herzl memorial service for Israeli casualties of war whose burial place is unknown.
"The fight is far from over and is now taking place in Jerusalem, Gaza and Bethlehem. Yesterday, in Bethlehem, Israel proved once more that it will hunt down murderers with Jewish blood on their hands and the people who sent them," said Barak.
"No matter how much time goes by, Israel's long reach will find them. That is our duty to the murdered and our responsibility to the living.
"The State of Israel honors its sons, who gave their lives and their burial place is unknown," continued the defense minister. "Some were lost at sea, some by fire and some on home and foreign land.
"Brave and courageous they embarked on their mission, only to lose their lives either in battle or latency, leaving an ever-painful question bleeding in the hearts of their loved one.
"We will forever be looking, listening and searching for any clue leading to out fallen sons, leaving no stone unturned. We are all forever committed to the soldiers who gave their lives in our fight for the right to live free on our land," concluded Barak, standing before the bereaved families.
Also attending the ceremony were IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, the chief rabbi of the IDF and the military cantor and representatives of the High Court of Justice.
