Ultra-Orthodox call on public to attend policeman’s funeral

The ultra-Orthodox community has released a statement calling on the public to attend the funeral of Zidan Saif, 30, the policeman killed in yesterday’s attack, the Walla news website reports.

“We are organizing a group of Haredim to attend the funeral of the Druze policeman who died last night of his wounds,” reads the statement, which was shared on social media.

“We ask the Haredi community to come to the funeral of the policeman who died protecting our praying brothers — let’s show our gratitude, and sanctify God’s name.”

Ariella Shternbach, the organizer of the initiative, says that the costs of the buses to the funeral were covered by donors.

“I saw the picture of Saif with his small daughter, and I was moved by the thought that he sacrificed his life for the Jewish people. Haredim, who were most affected by this attack, must come and pay their last respects,” she adds.

The funeral will take place in Yanuh-Jat in northern Israel at 2 p.m.