As victims are buried, calls for Netanyahu to return from Washington

The four victims of the Beni Naim junction massacre are to be laid to rest Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his delegation prepare to meet with their Palestinian counterparts. Palestinian Authority leaders mouthed perfunctory observations that violence was contrary to "national interests" but neglected to condemn the bloody terror act. The PA reportedly rounded up 200 Hamas "activists" but it was unclear whether this was a perfunctory questioning of the "usual suspects" or the first steps toward uprooting the subtantial terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.

Yitzchak and Talia Imas, parents of six children, were buried in the Mount of Olives (Har Hazeitim) cemetery in Jerusalem. Their daughter Rut eulogized them, saying, “For 19 years you raised me... G-d, thank you for giving me wonderful parents.” She recalled their 25th wedding anniversary just two weeks earlier, “You promised you would reach your golden anniversary as well.” She continued: “Mother, I promise to look over our family, to keep doing the things that were important to you, and to keep the family together.” “I'll be there for the little ones, who will grow up with no mother or father.” Kokhava Even-Chaim was buried in Ashdod. Her husband Momi spoke at her funeral. “I can't believe that I'm reading a goodbye letter to you, my wife, my beloved, the mother of our family. I've been to so many funerals, I want you to stay here with us.” He spoke of the terrorists who murdered Kokhava and three others, saying, “Evil cowards, who harm innocent civilians... Only wicked people could call that war.”
Speaking to his wife, he said, “We are not the ones accompanying you. You are accompanied by the angels you created by the learning of a daily page of Gemara, by saying Tehillim [Psalms] - just in the past two weeks you finished the book of Psalms 22 times – and by the angels you created by guarding your speech. Few people know that you led a group of women committed to avoiding speaking ill of others.”

Ten-year-old Hodaya, Kokhava's daughter, spoke at the funeral as well. “You always took care of me. When something happened to me, you would leave everything and come. You taught me to be righteous. I want you to come back to me.”

Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin joined the mourners in Beit Chagai. “Terrorists see no 'green line,'” he said, referring to the 1949 armistice line which devides Judea and Samaria from the rest of Israel. “Now, while our dead still lie before us, is not the time for national soul-searching,” he continued. “All I will say to you, Yitzchak, Talia, Kokhi and Avishai, is that you shall find comfort in the building of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel.”

Education Minister Gidon Saar said: “The tears we shed today are not only in our eyes; the heart weeps as well. The entire nation mourns, there is great pain over the tragedy that occurred last night. What cruelty, what murderous inhumanity, that turns on innocent civilians, on the mothers and fathers of children, including Kokhava – may G-d avenge her blood – who leaves behind a husband, a daughter and parents.”

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said "the attack was in contradiction with the national interests of the Palestinians and the PA's strategic vision". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said "condemns all acts that target Palestinian and Israeli civilians." and said the attack in the Hebron attack was designed to "disrupt the peace process. and can't be regarded as an act of resistance."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, informed about the the shooting attack while en route to Washington to relaunch direct talks with the Palestinians, said upon landing that he would tell US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that this “criminal attack” proves again the need for Israel to stand steadfastly by its security demands. Netanyahu said that his heart goes out to the families of the victims, and stressed that terrorism would not determine Israel’s borders or the future of the settlements.

Netanyahu directed the security branches to act “without any diplomatic constraints against the murderers, and act aggressively against those who sent them.” Officials in the prime minister’s entourage said that while Netanyahu was outraged by the attack, there was no intention of canceling the trip and returning to Israel, as nationalist leaders and commentators have demanded.

The US issued a statement on Tuesday night in the wake of the attack:

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack today perpetrated by Hamas in which four Israelis were killed in the southern West Bank. We express our condolences to the victims’ families and call for the terrorists behind this horrific act to be brought to justice. We note that the Palestinian Authority has condemned this attack."

"On the eve of the re-launch of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, this brutal attack underscores how far the enemies of peace will go to try to block progress. It is crucial that the parties persevere, keep moving forward even through difficult times, and continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region that provides security for all peoples."

We gratefully acknowledge Israel National News for Quotes and Photos from the funerals.