Thousands of people - "hurt but not broken" - participated in the double funeral of Rafi and Helena Halevy, who were murdered on Thursday night by an Arab terrorist disguised as an observant Jew.
The couple was the 23rd husband-and-wife pair to have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists in the Oslo War. The last before them were Eitan and Rima Novikov, who were ambushed two years ago in southern Judea as they were on their way to friends in Ashdod.
The Halevys were buried in the Kedumim cemetery Sunday morning, with thousands of children, youth and adults braving heavy rains to participate in the funeral. Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss later told Arutz-7, "The Halevys were involved in everything that had to do with building our community - a new neighborhood, agriculture, taking care of children. They were themselves a 'life's enterprise.'"
Weiss said that Rafi had just recently taken upon himself a giant project of nurturing 3,500 olive trees planted in the region. "This rain that fell upon us during his funeral was rain that Rafi was waiting for," she said, "but he received it in a way that is hidden from the thoughts of man."
Also killed in the attack were Reut Feldman, 20, of Hertzliya, and Shaked Lasker, 16, of Kedumim. They were buried on Friday.
"The mood in Kedumim is quiet and pained," Weiss said, "but there is determination to continue forward. After the election, everyone wondered what would be, but now we all understand that we will have to be strong - and people are willing. The goal of settling the entire Land has not been diminished, but has rather grown stronger. I hear the youngsters talking, and they want to continue with full strength. They are hurt but not broken."
Click "play" to view video of Daniella Weiss click here if video does not appear
The army appears to have been surprised by the attack, which was not among the several dozen terrorist warnings it had been studying over the past days and weeks. In addition, army figures said that the Jewish residents should be more cautious in how they travel and pick up hitch-hikers; hitch-hiking is a common form of travel among Yesha residents, especially among high school students going to and from school.
Mayor Weiss rejects the implied accusations:
"Instead of attacking and destroying the enemy, they have complaints against people who do kindness to others? Because the enemy was able to trick a pure-hearted soul like Rafi, and push himself into a car behind a young girl and boy, therefore it's Rafi's fault for doing a favor? Or perhaps it's the fault of those who didn't succeed in thwarting the attack in time?...
"Our public is cautious and aware. The youth live in a wholesome manner, travel freely all over, and are alert but not frightened. Murderous Arabs can succeed even where there is alertness, as we have seen in Tel Aviv, Netanya, Jerusalem and elsewhere. This will not stop us or fossilize us, and the stream of life continues with even greater strength. The IDF must stop the terrorists and not rebuke us, as this is a reversal of roles and shows weakness."
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz said that Israel would retaliate against the Hamas terrorist infrastructure in the wake of Thursday’s terror attack in Kedumim. Mofaz stated that he held the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority responsible for the attack in Kedumim.
“A government that is committed to terror and instructs its security forces not to combat terror is responsible for this attack and any other attack that emanates from its territory,” Mofaz said.
Mofaz said that he had ordered Israeli security forces to broaden the scope of their fight against terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. “Israel will not ignore attacks on its citizens and will respond harshly,” warned Mofaz.