Police detective who committed suicide laid to rest in Modi'in
At funeral of Brig.-Gen. Efraim Bracha, outgoing police chief Danino warns of 'lies-riddled incitement' that led to his death, saying it poses a threat to Israeli democracy and the rule of law.
Brig.-Gen. Efraim Bracha, the top police detective who committed suicide, was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Modi'in on Monday afternoon.
Some 2000 people came to accompany him on his final journey, including the most high-ranked police officers - acting Police Commissioner Benzi Sao, outgoing Commissioner Yohanan Danino, State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, the head of the police's Investigative Unit, Maj.-Gen. Menny Yitzhaki, his predecessor Yoav Segalovich, and others.
"Dad, the last few days have been a nightmare," Bracha's daughter Moran said. "You said you didn't feel well, and that you heart was weak. I guess I didn't understand your true feeling of helplessness. I didn't know what to do to help you. If only I could have taken the pain away from you. I told you to be strong, because you still have four weddings of ours to attend, and a million grandchildren to get to know... You said goodbye to us and you wouldn't let us move away from you. I hugged you, you looked at us and said you wanted us to be happy and that you love us."
Bracha's son Adir also eulogized him. "Last Friday you were concerned about your heart and worried it would not hold. You told us - 'be united at my brother's wedding. Dance, be happy as if I was there.' More than anything you had integrity and were a role model."
Acting Police Commissioner Sao said, "A day has passed since a shot cut off many years of activity. The shot hit you. We didn't hear it, but it is echoing in all of our ears, just as we didn't hear the serious distress you were in. What has brought a man of values such as you to the point of no return? A lot of unanswered questions remain. The Israel Police is going through difficult days, but it will push through. This is Efraim's will."
Outgoing Commissioner Danino said Bracha was an example of professionalism and determination, "but even you could not fight pure evil, the lies-riddled incitement that reached the lowest of lows even after your death in an attempt to besmear, to trump on your honor and legacy. I am hopeful that in these difficult days, everyone can get to know who you were and your impressive work.
"The entire nation of Israel must see this as a true cry of warning that alerts to the damage caused to the Israeli democracy and the rule of law. If we don't wake up after this incident, the deterioration will be quick to follow."
The most emotional of eulogies was made by former head of Police's Intelligence Unit, Yoav Segalovich. "At the end of 2012 you came to me, told me about an incident and made a necessary but extremely difficult choice. A choice between your rabbi and your country," Segalovich said about Bracha's decision to confess that Rabbi Pinto tried to bribe him.
