Soldier who left base 'wants to stay in elite unit'

Nadav Haiman, who walked more than 20 kilometers to his home, locks himself up in room. Father believes army will understand incident's circumstances

Shmulik Hadad |Published: 07.23.10 , 12:00

Why did Nadav Haiman escape? The Israel Defense Forces combat soldier who was declared missing Thursday morning after leaving his base during a training session, and turned up at his home at night, has explained to his family why he did what he did, but the explanation has yet to be revealed to the media.

His father, Nimrod Haiman, said Friday morning that he believed the IDF would "show understanding to the circumstances of the incident."

Haiman, walked at least 20 kilometers (12 miles) by foot from his training base to his home in Moshav Kochav Michael, near Ashkelon.

Several relatives and friends arrived at the Haiman home on Friday morning. The soldier himself locked himself up in his room and has not left the house since the morning hours. Official IDF representatives were expected to visit the house later in the day to talk to him.

Haiman's friends and relatives expressed their anger over what they defined as "irresponsible reports on the media". According to the father, who works as a pilot in an airline, these publications could harm his son.

'We thank the public for helping with the search' (Photo: Roee Idan)

The father thanked Israel's citizens for helping out with the search for his son. "We really appreciate the wide public's recruitment and the help given," he said.

He added that he believed his son will resume his military service. "He wants to continue serving the army and stay in his unit. The army is not our enemy. We assume the army will handle the matter as required."

According to the father, the family members had been prepared for any possible scenario. "From the moment they told us that he left, we began thinking about the worst and most terrible things, more than just him leaving the training session. But he eventually came home, and we thank the army for doing all it could to bring him back."