PM, IDF chief pay tribute to Herzl Shaul, vow to return his son’s body

Military officials and politicians paid tribute Friday to Herzl Shaul, who succumbed to cancer earlier in the day without seeing the return of his soldier son’s body from the hands of Hamas in Gaza.

“My wife and I are deeply sorry at the tragic passing of Herzl Shaul,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “In our meetings with Herzl we saw a strong man, who dedicated all his time and energy to fighting for his health and fighting for return of his son’s body.”

Netanyahu continued: “We are sorry for his devoted wife Zehava, who is experiencing terrible grief over the loss of her son Oron and now needs to cope with the great pain of the passing of her beloved husband. We send our condolences also to the boys Aviram and Ofek, who are experiencing immense loss for the second time in two years.

“We send our sympathies to the family in the name of the people of Israel and promise to continue to act in every arena to bring Oron for burial in Israel. We will not cease in our efforts until Oron comes home.”

The Shaul family has for months held a daily vigil outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, calling for the government to bring Oron’s body home.

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said Friday he pledged to Shaul that he would keep fighting for the return of Oron’s body, along with that of 23-year-old Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was also killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

“Herzl was the head of an exemplary family,” Eisenkot said in a statement. “I send a strong embrace to Zehava and the family at this difficult time. I met Herzl for the last time a week ago, and I promised him that we will continue to do everything we can to bring Oron and Hadar home, to be laid to rest in Israel.”

President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement: “We hurt with the Shaul family upon the passing of Herzl, father of the family, who was a focus of power and determination in the struggle to bring Oron home. In our last meeting I hoped and prayed that Herzl would gather his strength and overcome his illness.

“At this difficult time, Nechama and I send an embrace and condolences to Zehava and the children. The State of Israel will continue to do everything in its power to fulfill its obligation and bring Oron to eternal rest along his father Herzl. May his memory be a blessing,” Rivlin said.

Moshe Ya’alon, who was defense minister during the 2014 war, called Herzl Shaul “a gallant man, humane and exceptional, who together with his wife Zehava built a model home and raised three children to contribute to the State of Israel. Painful circumstances brought us together two years ago, and since then we have been in close contact, even on days when his cancer tormented him. Herzl was a special man and each meeting and conversation with him showed the reserves of human strength he possessed.”

The Shaul family has “lost its supporting pillar two years after the fall of Oron. We will continue to embrace Zehava, Aviram and Ofek with love,” Ya’alon said.

“The State of Israel will not give up until it returns Oron and Hadar to burial in Israel,” he said. “This is Israel’s commitment to the sons and the families. This is our commitment to Herzl. This is also my personal commitment.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also vowed to realize Shaul’s wish to see Oron buried in Israel.

“The Defense Ministry and the people of Israel bow their heads in sorrow at the death of Herzl, of blessed memory,” Liberman said.

“I met with Herzl about a month ago. [He] did everything in his power to return his late son Oron, and I am saddened he did not achieve this before he died. The Israeli government is committed to returning the bodies of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul and Lieutenant Hadar Goldin of blessed memory and bringing them to Israel for burial.”

Liberman’s office told The Times of Israel this week that he is opposed to negotiations with Hamas for the return of Goldin and Shaul’s bodies.