Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 11, 2008 Nisan 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:02 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Relatives and comrades attending the funeral of Sayef Bisan in the northern Druze village of Jatt on Wednesday. (Reuters) Last update - 09:05 10/04/2008 Druze commando buried with honors, but not in IDF cemetery By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: IDF, Israel, Druze Until Wednesday, four soldiers from the Druze village of Jatt in the Western Galilee had died during their Israel Defense Forces service. The four, locals say, died serving the army but not during combat duty. They were interred in a civilian, not military cemetery, because the town does not have a military cemetery, despite the many locals who serve in the army. Staff Sergeant Sayef Bisan of the Egoz elite unit was killed during combat duty in Gaza on Wednesday but was also interred in a civilian plot. The head of the local council, Sheikh Jadalla Saed, does not know why there is no military cemetery in Jatt, unlike the nearby village of Yanu'ah. "There were lots of inquiries in the past," the sheikh said. Advertisement "The Israel Lands Administration said that the plot we designated as the military cemetery would harm the landscape. It's a real insult." The Israel Land Administration said the Defense Ministry's department caring for fallen soldiers' commemoration were responsible for creating a military cemetery, and that it would not be averse to changing the land's designation, so long as a detailed plan is drawn-up in cooperation with the Defense Ministry and the local council. The Defense Ministry, however, says Bisan's family asked to inter him in the family burial site. They added that the Lands Administration had allocated a plot for a military cemetery and its construction is in the pipeline. "Had the family asked for a military burial we would have prepared it within hours," the Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile, the village of Jatt was in mourning, as many of its inhabitants and people from nearby villages visited the Bisan family's home. Jihad Abid, the deputy mayor of Jat-Yanu'ah and a cousin of Bisan, told Haaretz that his entire family serves in the IDF with pride. The late soldier's brother is an officer in a combat unit and his father also served in the army. "He's a guy everybody loved and respected," Abid said. "Everyone praised him. He was a friend with people of different families, clans and ages. I am 52, and I always enjoyed chatting to him. The army was a place of pride for him, the fact that he was in an elite unit demonstrates his bravery and excellence." Karim Bisan, the soldier's uncle, said Sayef did not like to talk about his membership in an elite unit with people outside his close circle. Bisan was on leave last weekend and visited his family. Relatives said that his unit's involvement in fighting in Gaza was a constant source of worry. He was interred Wednesday in a funeral with full military honors. The Druze spiritual leader in Israel, Sheikh Muafek Tarif, eulogized Bisan, followed by the head of the local council and his unit's commander, who said he was the "soul of our unit." Related articles: IDF soldier killed, two wounded in southern Gaza Strip Local security officer: Palestinians warned of infiltration Bookmark to del.icio.us   Banning Beijing boycott Israel's Olympic panel warns against mixing sports and politics. 20,000 strong A study released by an Israeli think tank shows Hamas' military buildup in Gaza is at its peak.   1.   Staff Sargeant Sayef Bisan, hero and patriot 01:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/04/08   2.   Honor to the Druze 02:10  |  IW 10/04/08   3.   Grief is felt here as well. May his memory be a blessing for us.. 02:25  |  bat yam 10/04/08   4.   G-d reast his soul.May the family of Staff Sergeant Sayef Bisan 02:28  |  PETER 10/04/08   5.   G-d reast his soul.May the family of Staff Sergeant Sayef Bisan 02:28  |  PETER 10/04/08   6.   Israel should do every thing in its power for Druz 03:19  |  Haldrik 10/04/08   7.   It was their choice, so why the headline? 03:26  |  Slibovitz 10/04/08   8.   May the Druze of Jatt village Never need a Army Cemetery 03:46  |  Joseph . E 10/04/08   9.   Staff Sergeant Bisan, z"l 03:50  |  sandra chitayat 10/04/08   10.   Honor to all Druze 04:05  |  Yosi 10/04/08   11.   The picture of the Israeli Flag on the Druze Soldier Coffin 04:10  |  Joseph . E 10/04/08   12.   I agree with #1: Honor the Druze 05:09  |  Gili 10/04/08   13.   The Druz...... 05:19  |  Ali 10/04/08   14.   He fought man to man against an ARMED enemy 05:30  |  PETER SM 10/04/08   15.   Nor so hero to us 06:00  |  Mazen 10/04/08   16.   Get back to your roots ..Now 06:09  |  dawood 10/04/08   17.   Shame on Israel 07:58  |  Ori 10/04/08   18.   Honor Glory and Tears 08:10  |  The Archives 10/04/08   19.   Nature is important, but sure there must be 08:19  |  Suzanne 10/04/08   20.   We mourn the death in action of StaffSgt Bisan 09:07  |  Shir 10/04/08   21.   Druze commando buried with honors, but not in IDF cemetery 09:41  |  Gerald Zang 10/04/08   22.   Honor to Staff Sgt. Sayef Bisan 09:59  |  Esther 10/04/08   23.   My heart is with Sayef and his familly 10:09  |  dovale 10/04/08   24.   TO Mazen # 5 10:20  |  dovale 10/04/08   25.   Consolations to his family 10:20  |  Nik Miller 10/04/08   26.   Druze commando buried with honros ,but not in IDF cemetary 11:50  |  Gad Ben-Ami 10/04/08   27.   Honour to the Druze and sympathy to this fallen hero`s family 14:14  |  Alan 10/04/08

Read & React Israel plans diplomatic offensive to show Hamas behind deadly border raid Responses: 96 Israel having hard time establishing effective deterrent against terror Responses: 51 Vatican cardinal: Jews too 'emotional' over Good Friday prayer Responses: 92 Israel Harel: Peace Now sinned by blaming absence of peace on Israel Responses: 56 Rosner's Domain Obama should prepare the world for disappointment And pro-Palestinians have high hopes for him (WTR) McCain thinks that Hagee wants peace (WTR) Guest: Who's going to take down Iran? Shut Up, I'm Talking! a dialogue More Headlines 03:16 PM to IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks 01:36 FM Livni says will save Pesach seat for abducted IDF soldiers 01:33 Israeli think tank: Hamas has 20,000 armed men in Gaza Strip 22:01 Carter Center won't confirm rumors ex-U.S. leader to meet Hamas officials 01:32 Rabbis say AM:PM to close on Shabbat 23:30 2 Palestinians arrested for plot to poison Ramat Gan diners 02:56 PM: Israeli response to Negev attack will weaken Hamas 03:39 Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide 22:18 Tycoon Gaydamak said to have made fortune in Russia-Angola deal Previous Editions Select Day 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

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