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Prisoner swap
Peres to Goldwasser and Regev families: All of Israel is hurting with you
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev 

President Shimon Peres on Thursday visited the family homes of First Sergeant Major Eldad Regev, 26 and Sergeant Major Ehud Goldwasser, 31, and told the bereaved families, that "all of Israel is hurting with you."

The visits came shortly after funeral services were held for the two soldiers returned dead by Hezbollah on Wednesday, over two years after they were killed in a cross-border raid by the Lebanese militia, and their bodies spirited into Lebanon.

Upon arrival at the Goldwasser home, Peres embraced Ehud's parents and his widow Karnit Goldwasser and told them "I came here in the name of the people of Israel, to salute Udi (Ehud) and his courageous family, who fought an uncompromising and righteous struggle to bring their son home."
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Peres praised the family for their handling of the last two years, saying "you conducted yourselves with humility and integrity and I am proud to be here today with you and tell you that all of Israel is hurting with you."

When asked about jubilant celebrations in Lebanon marking the return of convicted terrorist and child-killer Samir Kuntar, whose release was instrumental to the prisoner exchange, Peres said he is "proud to be part of a people with higher morals", adding, "there are people on the other side whose god is the god of terror. This is not our god, these are not our morals."

Ehud's parents Shlomo and Miki Goldwasser told Peres that during the past two years they "discovered a nation, a great and rare people, a nation of beautiful young people, Jewish communities that contribute. Our people as a whole enlisted to bring two of our sons home, and we have been showered by extraordinary support.

The parents added that seeing the hundreds of thousands of people who lined the side of the road to salute the fallen soldiers on their way home brought them to tears.

During Peres' visit to Eldad Regev's house, the fallen soldier's brother Benny praised Peres for signing the agreement to release Kuntar, saying it was the right thing to do and that the two years the family spent unsure of Eldad's fate was "extraordinarily difficult."

Peres told the Regev family that returning Eldad was a moral obligation of the people of Israel and that the thousands who saluted his coffin on his final journey home were a sign of "appreciation and love."

On Thursday afternoon, thousands of mourners gathered at the military cemetery in Haifa for the funeral of Regev. A similar number turned out earlier in the day as Goldwasser was laid to rest at the Nahariya military cemetery.

Goldwasser and Regev received formal military burials, with soldiers carrying their caskets draped in blue and white Israeli flags.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was the first to eulogize Regev, after the prayers were recited and dirt spilled into the fallen soldier's grave.

The defense minister described Regev as an "impressive young man" with great love and commitment to his religion, and said: "In the name of a hurting state, we salute you."

In his eulogy, Barak reiterated that Israel was committed to bringing home its captured soldiers.

"This isn't the way we hoped to see Eldad and Udi [Ehud] back in Israel," the defense minister said, adding: "An entire nation pays tribute to courage shown by Regev family."

Barak also said that the case of missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad was still not closed, and vowed that the state would continue its efforts to determine his fate.

"We are left with no choice but to live by the sword in hostile region," the defense minister said. "Israel will not be deterred from waging fierce war against terrorism."

The next to speak was the commander of Regev's platoon, who eulogized his soldier as having "a great character, good heart, and warm smile," and was always prepared for any mission he was asked to undertake.

Regev's brother, Ofer, said he was proud of his country for "working with me to bring you home," adding: "I am proud of you, Eldad, my younger brother... a true patriot from front to back."

Goldwasser's widow: Our journey ends today

Sergeant Major Ehud Goldwasser was was laid to rest at 10 A.M. Thursday at the Nahariya cemetery.

Goldwasser's widow, Karnit, described her husband's funeral as bringing an end to a two-year journey: "For the last two years I have been speaking for two, Eldad and Udi, Regev and Goldwasser. The struggle to bring you home was joint from the beginning. For the first time, today, I let myself speak only of you."

Karnit spoke of her fallen husband as a man with "a calming and loving voice," and as a soldier who viewed army reserves as a privilege, and never hesitated to do his part for the country.

The day of her husband's abduction was "the morning when time stood still," Goldwasser said, adding: "Ehud will continue to be my inner voice, my full partner as I go on with my life."


Shimon Peres comforting Ehud Goldwasser's widow Karnit. (Amos Ben-Gershom)


Goldwasser also mentioned that her husband's funeral took place a day before his birthday. "One day before your birthday I ask, Toush, maybe time will allow the bleeding wounds to heal?" she said, referring to her late husband by his nickname. "Although I am without you, I will always be with you."

In his eulogy to the fallen soldier, Barak told mourners that during the two years since the abduction, Israel had been willing to "pay the highest price" for the soldiers' return.

"If the worst will happen to any of you," he told soldiers attending the funeral, "Israel will will make every possible and legitimate effort ... to bring you home.

"You are walking toward the fire with the clear knowledge that the army and the entire Israeli nation sent you to fight in its name and you are fighting for its life and the entire Israeli nation is indebted to you," Barak said.

He also said that Israel would not give up its fight for a deal to return Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by Hamas since June 2006.

In eulogizing her son, Goldwasser's mother Miki said that Israel should view the war which began following Ehud's abduction as a victory, which brought out national strength and great qualities.

Coffins containing the remains of the Goldwasser and Regev were delivered to an army base in northern Israel on Wednesday evening, where their families were waiting to hold a private ceremony.

No definitive word about the soldiers' condition had been given from the time of their abduction on July 12, 2006 until their bodies were returned on July 16, 2008.

The coffins, draped in Israeli flags, were driven a short distance from the Rosh Hanikra crossing on the Israel-Lebanon border to the Shraga army base.

Five hours after the bodies were handed over, an Israeli forensics team positively identified them as those of Regev and Goldwasser.

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      1.   Ehud Goldwasser RIP 10:25  |  KUTW 17/07/08
      2.   Ehud Goldwasser, z`l 10:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/07/08
      3.   To all who wrote in all topics here 10:51  |  Hans 17/07/08
      4.   Support and solidarity from Spain. 10:56  |  Roberto Gutierrez 17/07/08
      5.   EHUD 11:05  |  DOV 17/07/08
      6.   Sympathies for Another Fallen Soldier 11:16  |  Gray 17/07/08
      7.   #3, Hans 11:23  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/07/08
      8.   Support for Israel 11:27  |  Bill Coventry 17/07/08
      9.   The Funeral 11:31  |  Carole 17/07/08
      10.   1 Samuel 25 (the bundle of life) 11:34  |  Tulip 17/07/08
      11.   Haaretz must write.......... 11:46  |  Harry 17/07/08
      12.   We are all one family today 11:52  |  Tzfonit 17/07/08
      13.   #8 Bill Coventry--We`re With You, Cousin 11:56  |  US CITIZEN 17/07/08
      14.   Shame, shame on us 11:58  |  Moshe 17/07/08
      15.   abducted/killed soldiers 11:59  |  Dik 17/07/08
      16.   There must be an investigation 12:05  |  Jo 17/07/08
      17.   Harry# 11, did you see Octavia Nasr on CNN? 12:09  |  Tulip 17/07/08
      18.   Israeli dignity 12:09  |  Dieter Lundgren 17/07/08
      19.   RIP 12:10  |  Lara 17/07/08
      20.   deepest condolonces 12:21  |  linda 17/07/08
      21.   Condolence 12:26  |  Pepe 17/07/08
      22.   Heads high 12:29  |  Niv 17/07/08
      23.   ABOUT GOLDWASSER 12:32  |  ELSIR 17/07/08
      24.   Goldwasser`s widow: Our journey has ended today 12:43  |  Scottish Lady 17/07/08
      25.   May he rest in peace 12:49  |  northern neighbor 17/07/08
      26.   Ehud & Eldad - RIP 12:51  |  Jennifer 17/07/08
      27.   Sympathy 12:53  |  Isaac Charles 17/07/08
      28.   Carole 13:10  |  Jenny 17/07/08
      29.   we mourn the loss of our brothers & sons 13:29  |  * BEN JABO 17/07/08
      30.   Why no report on how they died ? 13:42  |  Raymond 17/07/08
      31.   To both families 13:43  |  Christina 17/07/08
      32.   No sympathy 13:54  |  Steve 17/07/08
      33.   Pleasing Iran at the expense of Israelis 14:03  |  isratinian 17/07/08
      34.   RIP 14:19  |  Lebanese 17/07/08
      35.   To 32 - Steve 14:31  |  Lebanese Patriot 17/07/08
      36.   Lebanese 14:41  |  RIP? 17/07/08
      37.   Lebanese 14:41  |  RIP? 17/07/08
      38.   Paying the ulitimate price 14:41  |  Nephtaly 17/07/08
      39.   Mourning 14:41  |  j10 17/07/08
      40.   Raymond 14:49  |  Nina 17/07/08
      41.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 15:02  |  Ali 17/07/08
      42.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 15:04  |  Noura 17/07/08
      43.   Now, take Kuntar out 15:08  |  Tit for Tat 17/07/08
      44.   One can`t help but weep ..... 15:23  |  Dagma 17/07/08
      45.   The pride and the shame 15:26  |  Arie 17/07/08
      46.   For Noura 15:27  |  Nurit 17/07/08
      47.   Noura 15:28  |  Patricia 17/07/08
      48.   And now for Shalit.....??? 15:35  |  Dolly 17/07/08
      49.   The time is coming.... 15:37  |  bob_boston 17/07/08
      50.   Families Goldwasser and Regev 15:42  |  Rozz 17/07/08
      51.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 15:43  |  Refugee 17/07/08
      52.   The IDF is a proud family 15:45  |  The Equalizer 17/07/08
      53.   over 2 million arabs 15:48  |  Shlomo 17/07/08
      54.   Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser RIP 15:51  |  KUTW 17/07/08
      55.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 15:51  |  michael 17/07/08
      56.   Israelis may weep today,,,, 15:57  |  Dolly 17/07/08
      57.   32. Steve 16:00  |  KUTW 17/07/08
      58.   Put on the other side point of view 16:01  |  Manolo ME expert 17/07/08
      59.   Enough, more than enough 16:02  |  Richard Zatban 17/07/08
      60.   My condolences 16:03  |  Ana 17/07/08
      61.   Eldad Regev RIP 16:04  |  KUTW 17/07/08
      62.   Ali in Dubai 16:10  |  ChanahS 17/07/08
      63.   Lopsided swap grossly disenchants most American jews. 16:11  |  Sarah 17/07/08
      64.   Hi michael 16:11  |  Star of David 17/07/08
      65.   IN MEMORY OF THE DEPARTED ONES 16:14  |  Ana 17/07/08
      66.   Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser RIPPPP 16:17  |  Dagma 17/07/08
      67.   Condolonces 16:18  |  Egyptian 17/07/08