Karnit Goldwasser during Udi's funeral Photo: Reuters
Udi Goldwasser's gravesite Photo: Hagai Aharon
Karnit Golwasser: Udi united Israeli society
Family marks end of period of mourning over reservist whose body returned to Israel in prisoner exchange. 'You gave this nation what it needed – pride, determination and mostly a lot of love,' his father-in-law says during service
Dozens of family members and friends gathered Wednesday morning at Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser's gravesite at the military cemetery in Nahariya to mark the end of the shivah - or seven days of mourning over the IDF reservist whose body was returned to Israel
last week in the framework of the prisoner exchange with
Hizbullah.
Goldwasser and fellow reservist Eldad Regev were captured by Hizbullah gunmen during a cross-border raid on July 12, 2006, an incident that triggered the Second Lebanon War. Their bodies were returned in exchange for the release of five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kuntar.
Regev's parents were also on hand for the service.
"You captured everyone's heart; you gave this nation what it needed – pride, determination and mostly a lot of love," Udi's father-in-law, Omri Avni said during the ceremony.
Udi's widow Karnit reiterated her position that all efforts must now focus on bringing about the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists from an army base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
"Udi's legacy, as I knew him, is that we must not rest until Gilad returns home," she said. "I wish to thank all those who have helped bring Udi home, including the leadership and the Israeli people, who demanded his return."
Karnit Goldwasser said thousands of people from all across the country visited with Udi's bereaved family this past week to offer their condolences.
"At some point I realized that Udi, in his own way, without even being here, succeeded in reinforcing our values as a nation and brought our society together toward a higher goal," she said. "Our mission now is to embrace Shalit's family and bring Gilad home as well."
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