High Court says reservist who died by suicide should receive military burial in civilian cemetery

The High Court says a reservist who died by suicide in October should receive a military burial in a civilian cemetery, after a lengthy legal struggle between the army and the soldier’s family.

The decision ratifies the compromise offered by the Israel Defense Forces and the Defense Ministry after Maj. (res.) Asaf Dagan’s family refused to bury him until he received a military funeral.

Dagan shot himself with his handgun on October 23 while not in active service, which made him ineligible for a military burial.

The judges say that the matters of a military tombstone, Dagan’s inclusion on the military’s memorial website and the holding of an annual remembrance ceremony will be determined during a process of dialogue between the reservist’s family and the army.

Dagan was a combat navigator in the IAF for 20 years and served in the Second Lebanon War. Before then, he served in the Paratroopers Brigade.

When he was released from duty in the IAF, he served as a reservist in the Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 8200.

He suffered from PTSD but would regularly show up for reserve duty, according to his family.