In a rare step, the government of Israel allowed the family of a deceased Syrian to bring him to burial in Israel. Afif Al'Ur, who died Wednesday, was brought to the Druze village of Bukata in the Golan, which he left 30 years ago when he moved to Syria.
Al'Ur, a physician, died of heart failure in the city of Sweida in Syria. His family, which lives in Bukata, turned to Deputy Minister for Development of the Negev and Galilee, Ayoub Kara, and asked for his help in fulfilling Al'Ur's request – written in his will – to be buried in Bukata. Kara received the cooperation of the Defense Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office and the body was brought to Israel.
In recent months, Kara has been working towards the opening of the Kuneitra border crossing which is currently used mostly by United Nations officials.
Two months ago he helped two Syrian sisters, Walida and Rawida Hamad, who married two brothers from the Golan village of Masadeh, to visit Syria and tend to their ailing father in Damascus.
"I will continue my work to tighten relations and open the Kuneitra Crossing to humanitarian and economic ties,” Kara said. “These moves improve Israel's image and bring peace between the countries closer.”