Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel s military correspondent.
Family and friends attend the funeral of IDF soldier Amit Ben-Ygal at the cemetery in the central city of Beer Yaakov, May 12, 2020. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Three Israelis a soldier and two civilians were killed in violent, nationalistic attacks over the course of the past year, by far the lowest number in the country’s history.
This bittersweet distinction comes as Israel on Wednesday commemorated Memorial Day, remembering the 23,928 people recognized as having fallen on behalf of the state since 1873.
Over the past year, 112 names have been added to that list 43 of them active servicemembers and 69 who were recognized as having died of wounds sustained in wars or terror attacks. Those 112 people includes those killed in accidents or died of illness over the past year, as well as people who died years ago but have only now been officially recognized as having died of injuries related to their military service
Esther Horgen z”l
Late last year, Esther Horgen, a mother of six, went for a hike in the Reihan forest. Palestinian arab terrorist Muhammad Mruh Kabha laid in wait and brutally murdered her.
The vicious crime shocked Israel and left her husband, 6 children and grandchildren bereaved and mourning for the loss of their mother and wife. Her family has since embarked on a journey to keep Esther’s memory alive.
A vibrant and talented woman, Esther Horgen left a tremendous legacy through her family, her words and her artwork. These all came together in The Israel Bible Scroll of Esther, featuring Esther’s beautiful illustrations and uplifting poetry, alongside the text of the Megillah in Hebrew and English, and a new commentary from Rabbi Tuly Weisz.
The military first announced its intention to demolish the two floors where Kabha lived last month, but his family appealed to the High Court of Justice to prevent the move.
A panel of three judges upheld the military’s plan, saying that although he had yet to be convicted, Kabha had admitted to committing the crime and there was “strong, external, objective evidence” to corroborate his confession.
Muhammad Mruh Kabha, 40, from the Palestinian village of Tura al-Gharbiya, is suspected of murdering Esther Horgen of the Tal Menashe settlement on December 20, 2020. (Shin Bet)
According to the Shin Bet security agency, Kabha is suspected of carrying out the terror attack as a form of vengeance for the death of a security prisoner, Kamel Abu Waer, who died of cancer six weeks before.
Court indicts Palestinian terrorist for murder of Israeli woman
Indictment says Muhammad Mruh Kabha, who murdered Esther Horgen in December, smashed the mother of six on the head with a rock until she stopped moving in an attack he planned for over a month
Elisha Ben Kimon, Raanan Ben Tzur |
Published: 02.04.21 , 13:58
A military court on Thursday has indicted the Palestinian who admitted to murdering 52-year-old Esther Horgen in a terror attack in December 2020.
The beaten body of Horgen, a mother of six from the settlement of Tal Menashe, was found a day after she went missing during a jog in the woods near her home.
High Court approves demolition of confessed terrorist s home
Judges reject petition by family of Muhammad Mruh Kabha, who murdered Esther Horgen in December, that razing the top two floors of their West Bank house was collective punishment and violation of international and Jewish law
Yael Freidson |
Published: 02.03.21 , 15:39
The High Court of Justice on Wednesday approved the partial demolition of the West Bank home of the Palestinian who admitted murdering 52-year-old Esther Horgen in a December 2020 terror attack.
The beaten body of Horgen, a mother of six from the settlement of Tal Menashe, was found a day after she went missing during a jog in the woods near her home.