Hevron Regional Council head and Otniel resident Yochai Damari, who is also a member of the Mark family, expressed deep sorrow over the accident in which Rabbi Michael Mark's son was killed.
"We're shocked and pained and can't believe after the terrible tragedy of our friend Shlomi Mark, the eldest son of our dear Rabbi Mickey Mark Hy"d. Shlomi, a father of three, is married to Yiska, who lost her father Eliyahu Ben Ami in the attack. Both are children of Otniel and residents of Otniel and were all examples of how to cope and take responsibility.
"Shlomi, from the moment he enlisted to this day, chose to give his best years to the security of Israel as an officer and later in the defense establishment. We part from Shlomi in the torah portion of Shemini, where we read about Aaron's thunderous silence in light of the sudden death of his two sons.
"From Sabbath eve I've been accompanying the Mark family. Our hearts are torn in these difficult times, we lift our eyes to the Master of the Universe to say enough to our troubles and bring relief and rest for the dear family."