In what was described by an Israel Radio reporter as a \"particularly sad funeral, if such a thing exists,\" hundreds of Ofrah residents and others heard eulogies and accompanied 18-year-old Erez Rund to his final rest. He was shot yesterday afternoon while in a car from Eli to Ofrah by a Palestinian terrorist waiting in ambush on the hill to the west of the north-south highway. Erez was a high school senior on his way home from Eli, where he had gone to check out the pre-military yeshiva he was considering attending next year. A youth leader in the Bnei Akiva movement, he is survived by his parents and three brothers. \"Erez, you know that I don\'t talk much,\" his father said at the funeral, over the sound of much sobbing in the background. \"You were the one who spoke for me. You were the one who brought life to our home, who made jokes, who always smiled. How will we be able to live in this house without you?\"
Erez is the sixth Ofrah resident to fall victim to Arab terrorism and aggression in the past two years. Over 20 people have been murdered by terrorists along and near the route between Shilo and the Assaf Junction turn-off to Beit El.
About 100 residents of Ofrah and nearby communities held morning prayer services at the site of the murder, Haramiyah Junction. Afterwards, Binyamin Regional Council head Pinchas Wallerstein announced that the area was being renamed to Arazim Way, in memory of Erez (cedar, in Hebrew) Rund. Wallerstein declared his protest of the fact that just several days ago, a permanent army position nearby was removed. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer turned down a request last night for emergency call-up orders for extra soldiers to protect the area.
Erez is the sixth Ofrah resident to fall victim to Arab terrorism and aggression in the past two years. Over 20 people have been murdered by terrorists along and near the route between Shilo and the Assaf Junction turn-off to Beit El.
About 100 residents of Ofrah and nearby communities held morning prayer services at the site of the murder, Haramiyah Junction. Afterwards, Binyamin Regional Council head Pinchas Wallerstein announced that the area was being renamed to Arazim Way, in memory of Erez (cedar, in Hebrew) Rund. Wallerstein declared his protest of the fact that just several days ago, a permanent army position nearby was removed. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer turned down a request last night for emergency call-up orders for extra soldiers to protect the area.