The ZAKA organization, known for its work gathering human remains following terror attacks, has launched a search operation for a missing defense official in France.
ZAKA sent a team of ten people to Paris to supplement French efforts to locate the head of Israel’s Defense Ministry bureau in the French capital. Most of the personnel are rescue divers.
David Dahan disappeared in the middle of the night from his suburban Paris residence, where he lived alone. Police reported finding notes left by Dahan, along with his cell phone. They said the notes alluded to past depression and included a request for “forgiveness,” but were not explicit about the possibility of suicide. Dahan’s car was found near the Seine River and neither French nor Israeli officials are ruling out foul play, due to the sensitive nature of Dahan’s job.
Dahan handled purchases throughout Europe of military equipment for Israel’s security forces. The Defense Ministry mission was targeted by terrorists in 1982 in a bomb attack.
French divers trawled the area of the river closest to Dahan’s vehicle, but Israel is seeking a more thorough search.
ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav told Israel Radio that the organization is being dispatched as part of a compromise with the French government, which does not want an official Israeli security delegation assisting the efforts. “ZAKA is recognized by the United Nations as a humanitarian organization,” Meshi-Zahav said. Haaretz reported that ZAKA is being paid $80,000 by the Defense Ministry.
ZAKA is comprised almost completely of Hareidi-religious Jewish men, many of whom receive supplementary training at IDF Home Front Command facilities.
ZAKA sent a team of ten people to Paris to supplement French efforts to locate the head of Israel’s Defense Ministry bureau in the French capital. Most of the personnel are rescue divers.
David Dahan disappeared in the middle of the night from his suburban Paris residence, where he lived alone. Police reported finding notes left by Dahan, along with his cell phone. They said the notes alluded to past depression and included a request for “forgiveness,” but were not explicit about the possibility of suicide. Dahan’s car was found near the Seine River and neither French nor Israeli officials are ruling out foul play, due to the sensitive nature of Dahan’s job.
Dahan handled purchases throughout Europe of military equipment for Israel’s security forces. The Defense Ministry mission was targeted by terrorists in 1982 in a bomb attack.
French divers trawled the area of the river closest to Dahan’s vehicle, but Israel is seeking a more thorough search.
ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav told Israel Radio that the organization is being dispatched as part of a compromise with the French government, which does not want an official Israeli security delegation assisting the efforts. “ZAKA is recognized by the United Nations as a humanitarian organization,” Meshi-Zahav said. Haaretz reported that ZAKA is being paid $80,000 by the Defense Ministry.
ZAKA is comprised almost completely of Hareidi-religious Jewish men, many of whom receive supplementary training at IDF Home Front Command facilities.