Judges reject attempt to stop Rona Ramon cremation

The High Court has rejected a petition by a central Israel lawyer to keep the family of Rona Ramon from cremating her body.

Ramon — wife of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who died aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia — and mother of fighter pilot Asaf Ramon, who died on a training mission — had asked to be cremated to avoid making her children go through another funeral.

Ramon died last week, at age 54, after a battle with cancer.

Cremation is exceedingly rare in Israel, as it goes against both Jewish and Muslim tradition, and lawyer Shimon Ashur had argued it was illegal and would harm the public’s sensibilities.

However, the judges said the lawyer had no standing to “intervene in a matter between a person and their family,” and ordered him to pay NIS 3,000 (some $800) for the frivolous lawsuit.