Rivlin comforts family of slain soldier: 'Your son protected us all'
President Rivlin pays condolences visit to family of Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi, who was killed by Palestinian sniper fire on the Gaza border on Friday; 'I hope Aviv will be the last fallen soldier,' his mother says. 'That no mother feels this pain, that no mother loses her child.'
President Reuven Rivlin paid a condolences visit Monday to the Levi family, whose son Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi was killed by Palestinian sniper fire on the Gaza border on Friday.
"Your son protected us all. Our entire security is based on these young soldiers who carry the burden of the protection of our land," Rivlin told the bereaved parents. "Thanks to them, we are developing our country. This is our strength, and it is also our pain."
Rivlin met with Levi's parents and siblings, members of his extended family, and his girlfriend Shahar Erez.
Aviv's uncle told Rivlin about the support the family has been receiving from all over the country. "We're being embraced completely. The entire nation has come to our aid. The morning after (the news of Levi's death broke), a box with bread and vegetables was left outside the door, without the name of the sender. That's what the people of Israel are like."
"I hope Aviv will be the last fallen soldier," his mother Perla said in pain. "That no mother feels this pain, that no mother loses her child."
Aviv's father Yaakov told the president about the moment the family received the terrible news while on vacation abroad. "I would like to note the warm treatment we received in the hardest 24 hours of our lives from the Foreign Ministry's team and the military attaché in Italy. They did their job gently and in a way that inspires appreciation," Yaakov said.
"There is no comfort for your pain," Rivlin said, turning to the extended family. "Your pain— including yours, the siblings, and yours, dear grandmothers. Grandchildren are our heart, and the loss is hard to bear. I hope and wish you only good news in the future, and may we get to join you in your happy times. The entire nation embraces you at this difficult hour."
Speaking to Aviv's girlfriend Shahar Erez, the president told her the people of Israel were moved by the goodbye message she posted on her Facebook page after Aviv was killed, and warmly embraced her.
Hateful comments by Palestinian users
Erez also received hateful comments to that post by Palestinian users, including: "The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade (are there) only to kill the swine," "May you spend your days at grave sites," and "Death to you and your family."
Many users tagged Facebook's management to draw their attention to the hateful comments, leading to hateful comments being made on Facebook officials' posts against Jews, Israelis and IDF soldiers.
Several hours later, the Facebook post was removed—apparently by the girlfriend herself—but the Instagram version remained online.
Facebook said in response: "We're handling the matter. This is a violation of our community rules. Facebook is working to protect the safety of its users."
Guy Levy contributed to this report.
