Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., September 16, 2009 Elul 27, 5769 | | Israel Time: 12:14 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 23:55 14/09/2009
Asaf Ramon's mother: I know your father is watching over you
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Asaf Ramon 
Son of Israeli astronaut buried beside his father, day after killed in an IAF accident; Peres: All of Israel in mourning.

Israel Air Force pilot Captain Asaf Ramon was laid to rest next to his father Ilan Ramon on Monday, a day after he was killed in a training accident while flying an Israel Air Force jet.

"You've trapped me," said Asaf's mother, Rona, standing over the graves of her husband and son. "It should have been me. You were supposed to bury me, old and happy, surrounded by millions of grandchildren.

"Oh, what a God," she continued, her voice breaking. "Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, all your loved ones, will watch over you now, my child... My Asaf, take care of Dad. I know Dad will take care of you, and hug you now."
Advertisement
The funeral began at 4 P.M. at the military cemetery at Moshav Nahalal and was closed to the media, as requested by Rona Ramon. Hundreds of Ramon's relatives and friends, as well as a number of dignataries, accompanied the procession.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief Gabi Ashkenazi were also in attendance. Netanyahu postponed a scheduled afternoon meeting with Barack Obama's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, who also attended the funeral.

"The State of Israel is lowering its flag, as a whole nation mourns the death of our fallen son," Peres said in eulogy of Ramon. "All of our hearts are broken today, because the personal child of the Ramon family was a child of all of us."

"The words that accompanied Asaf and his friends as they received their wings at graduation still echo in my ears - 'every plane that has flown in the sky, every star that lights up the eyes, reminds me of you' - those words, that touched the hearts of everybody at the parade grounds, have been crushed now before our eyes."

"Rona was already a hero, she was and will remain a hero. There is no other Rona. There is no other hero," Peres said. "... These words can never fill the void."

Ramon, 21, died when the F-16A Falcon jet he was flying crashed during a routine training flight near the southern Hebron Hills. His father was Israel's first astronaut, who perished onboard the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. Like his son, Colonel Ramon was an F-16 pilot.

Netanyahu: Ramon family loss is like a 'biblical tragedy'

Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday called the fatal crash that took Ramon's life a "double loss", almost on the level of "a biblical tragedy."

"A father and son followed their hearts and soared to the heavens in chariots of steel, crashing to the Earth in chariots of fire," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister also said the crash raises questions about whether or not children of mothers who had lost their husbands should be allowed to serve in combat units.

"The dilemma here is very difficult, and the inclination is to say no [to combat service for children of bereaved parents]," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu added that in his time, his parents did not know that he was serving in the Israel Defense Forces' elite Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit in which his brother Yonatan also served until he was killed in Operation Entebbe in 1976.

"My two brothers and I were together in the same unit. My parents didn't know where I served or any of the risks we took."

Probe of crash to focus on human error

The main focus of the investigation into Sunday's crash is on human factors, and there is a high probability that some physiological problem may have led to the crash.

Barak told Israel Radio on Monday that news of Ramon's crash "hit me like a punch to the stomach."

Barak also addressed the issue of allowing the children of bereaved parents to serve in combat units, saying "it rends the heart when things like this happen. These are not children - these are young men who were educated with values. They want to serve in the most demanding places. You can't take this right away from them."

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, meanwhile, directed schools to devote a lesson this week to the family of Ilan and Asaf Ramon.

In a letter to school principals, Sa'ar called the Ramon family a "prime example of volunteerism, excellence, self-sacrifice."

Sa'ar noted that the items astronaut Ilan Ramon took with him into space (a Torah scroll and an Israeli flag) reflected Ramon's ties to his Jewish and Israeli roots.

Sa'ar suggested the class discussion could refer to historical events such as the 1981 Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, in which Ilan Ramon took part, and the fatal 2003 crash of the space shuttle Columbia.

Related articles:
  • Netanyahu: Death of Ilan Ramon's son is 'terrible tragedy'
  • A tragedy beyond translation: The death of Ilan Ramon
  • Israel weighs easing Gaza siege to allow post-war repairs
  • Barak: Death of Ilan Ramon's son Asaf is 'heartbreaking'
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    War crimes in Gaza
    UN probe finds Israel and the Palestinians committed war crimes in Gaza offensive
    Golan on Facebook
    Damascus threatens to deny access to social network for letting Golan be listed as 'Israel'
      1.   of course it`s biblical 14:43  |  Shuki 14/09/09
      2.   A family tragedy 15:04  |  Realist 14/09/09
      3.   Baruch HaDayan HaEmet- Blessed be the True Judge 16:18  |  Gershon 14/09/09
      4.   They are heroes to Americans, too. 18:16  |  Mea 14/09/09
      5.   How the mighty have fallen... 19:19  |  bat yam 14/09/09
      6.   Let`s not forget all our other young heroes 19:19  |  Ruth 14/09/09
      7.   Citizens of the Jewish State of Israel are proud of Ilan Ramon fa 19:23  |  Joseph. E 14/09/09
      8.   National heroes 19:38  |  Juan 14/09/09
      9.   Joseph E 19:44  |  northern neighbor 14/09/09
      10.   In G--d`s hands. 20:59  |  sandra chitayat 14/09/09
      11.   our faith is tested beyond endurance 22:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/09/09
      12.   CJK 11 Our faith is tested but together we are strong. 23:15  |  Realist 14/09/09
      13.   Have i also got the right? 00:49  |  Pure heart 15/09/09
      14.   NORTHERN NEIGHBOUR You of course are proud of baby killer Kuntar 05:35  |  PETER SM 15/09/09
      15.   What it is that must be, but cannot be allowed to be said 06:09  |  Mark Lincoln 15/09/09
      16.   after tragedy, continue to pursue our true course 09:54  |  pesach avrum 15/09/09
      17.   #PeterSM. I listened to a Rabbi today. 09:55  |  Maureen Ann 15/09/09
      18.   ... but why flowers? 12:22  |  Ben Azzai 15/09/09
      19.   Ilan Ramon 13:46  |  Nizza Thobi 15/09/09
      20.   May you know no more sorrows 14:43  |  GW 15/09/09
      21.   PETER SM- on Kuntar 15:45  |  Roo 15/09/09
      22.   "Inspired" northern neighbor? 16:48  |  shtarka 15/09/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Holidays are here
    Minerals Aromatics Body Lotion for free! Click here.
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Amazing Jewelry
    Visit SoKoBe.com for the best priced fine jewelry in the world
    More Headlines
    02:11 Israel girds for diplomatic war over 'biased' UN Gaza report
    09:32 'UN report accusing Israel of war crimes is prize for terror'
    08:08 Aluf Benn / In wake of Gaza probe, how can Israel go to war again?
    11:23 UN Gaza report / Will U.S. now let Goldstone into Afghanistan?
    03:30 Israel, Palestinian Authority summit still a long way off
    11:09 Ex-IDF commandos rescue U.S. citizen, son from abusive Palestinian husband
    12:07 Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen and Natalie Portman slam Toronto Film Festival protest
    22:47 TV ROUND-UP: Asaf Ramon laid to rest, Israeli leaders pay tribute
    04:49 Israeli Minister to Swedish Jews: Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism
    04:40 Yossi Melman / Pleas to Russia over Iran just humiliate Israel
    05:10 Settler rabbi faces trial for not naming suspected attackers
    06:05 Sharp rise seen in number of young Israelis suffering from Hodgkin's
    06:07 Despite financial troubles, Breslau Hasids still flocking to Uman
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved