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IDF refuses to bury soldier who went AWOL

Family of soldier killed in motorcycle accident says he deserted base due to mental, medical problems; army says won’t give defector military ceremony

The parents of IDF soldier Yair Sasson, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Beersheba on Friday, filed a High Court petition on Monday against Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF's Personnel Directorate demanding that their son be buried in a military cemetery.

 

The army said it has classified Sasson (20) as a deserter and therefore will not provide a military ceremony.

 

Sasson was killed while riding as a passenger on his friend's motorcycle. The motorcycle turned over and Sasson was critically wounded. He was evacuated to the Soroka Medical Center, where he died from his wounds.

 

In the petition, which was filed by Attorney Shlomi Tzipori, the parents claim that throughout his military service Yair had a difficult time adapting and suffered from medical problems. According to them, Yair repeatedly asked his commanders for help but was ignored. They said that as a result of his difficulties, Yair had been absent from his unit for about a month.

 

According to the parents, Yair returned to his base and was promised that a solution would be found to his problems. However, he deserted his base again when, according to the Sasson family, the promise was not kept.

 

The Sasson family admitted that Yair had been absent from the army since May 27, but claimed he was in regular contact with his commander and was due to return to his base on Sunday.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.28.10, 15:02
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