Soldier's widow: He wanted to build his home in Eli
Defense minister visits relatives of Major Eliraz Peretz, who ask him to reconsider decision to demolish illegal home. Earlier, Barak meets with visits Golani soldiers who lost two peers on Gaza border, tells them 'you set a personal example, often made to pay a high price'
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday paid a visit to the family members of Major Eliraz Peretz, deputy commander of the Golani Brigades 12th Battalion, who was killed Friday in an exchange of fire in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, he visitd the Israel Defense Force's Gaza Division and spoke with the soldiers who lost two of their fellow fighters during the exchange of fire in southern Gaza.
Peretz's widow, Shlomit, told Barak that the family home, which was built illegally in the settlement of Eli, "was his will, because he wanted to build his home and raise his family here."
Barak with Eliraz Peretz's mother, Miriam (Photo: Ariel Hermoni)
The family members asked the Defense Ministry and army to reconsider the house's demolition, take the sacrifice made by the residents into consideration and turn the Givat Hayovel neighborhood into an inseparable part of Eli.
Peretz's brother, Avihai, said however that "Eliraz would not have demanded and conditioned his great contribution to the State with any demand, so neither will we."
Peretz's mother, Miriam, told the defense minister about the death of her husband and sons. Friends of the family who were present during the meeting told Ynet that Barak embraced the mother and encouraged the bereaved family.
"You could see the grief on his face. He didn't always have words, so he mainly listened and thanked the two remaining sons for the great contribution to the IDF."
President Shimon Peres visited the family home on Monday morning as well.
An aide to Barak told Ynet that the visit was very important to the defense minister. "The discussion was to the point and was very sensitive. None of the sides made any demands or declarations. The defense minister listened, and they understood that he is familiar with the area, down to the smallest details."
'Freedom given to those who defend it'
Barak told the Golani soldiers that IDF paid the price of dozens of clashes in the Strip, but the other side paid as well, and "will continue paying the price for destabilizing the country.
"The IDF exists and acts in order to defend the country's borders and set the price for those who wish to plot against it," Barak told the combat soldiers, "It is a painful price to pay; freedom is only given to those willing to defend it.
"We can go and celebrate Passover all over the country while the families sit shiva (the seven days of mourning), only because you are deployed along the borders, and posses high combat abilities," he said.
Barak told the soldiers, "I am here today to here exactly what happened, and to tell you that the State of Israel, and myself – the defense minister, trust your abilities to immediately resume operational activity.
"This is difficult and demanding – but is part of the essence of combat battalions. Nothing stops the Golani Brigade from continuing with its missions in the face of all challenges," he added.
The defense minister expressed gratitude and said, "I want to thank you on behalf of the citizens and tell you that your battalion, in this division as well as in other places, has attained extraordinary achievements in operational activity.
"You set a personal example and are often made to pay a high price, as in the latest incident and many others. We depend on you and wish all of you a happy holiday as much as possible given the pain and sadness," Barak added.
Also on Monday, Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi visited Guy Elmakayes, who was wounded during Friday's incident. Ashkenzi arrived at Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba and said Elmakayes' condition has improved and that he wishes to return to the battalion as soon as possible.
Ashkenazi said he will spend the holiday, as he usually does, with combat soldiers in the north.
The chief of staff on Sunday visited the Peretz family home and offered his condolences for the death of son Eliraz during the fire exchange at the Gaza border on Friday. Twelve years ago, Eliraz's brother was killed in Lebanon.
"It is a privilege and honor to command soldiers like Uriel and Eliraz," said Ashkenazi upon leaving the Peretz residence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid is respects. "I hope you will never know additional sorrow," he said.
Shmulik Grossman, Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
