Over a hundred residents of Shilo, north of the capital, set out this morning on a 45-kilometer (28 miles) march to Jerusalem's Old City and the Western Wall in memory of the fallen soldier, IDF St.-Sgt. Avihu Keinan. Keinan, 22, was a Shilo native who fell in the line of duty in Gaza in September 2003. The march was led by Moshe Keinan, Avihu's father.
In addition to a memorial event, the march is - as it was last year - a demonstration in favor of what Moshe Keinan has called "true morality" in the army, demanding that the IDF cease putting soldiers at risk in order to avoid collateral damage among residents of the enemy Palestinian Authority.
The marchers were encouraged and blessed by former Chief Rabbi and Rishon Lezion Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who was on his way back from prayers at the tomb of the Biblical patriarch Joseph, located in Shechem (Nablus).
Last year at this time, Keinan and other bereaved Shilo families marched from the community cemetery to the President's Residence in Jerusalem, where they set up a sukkah/protest tent.
In addition to a memorial event, the march is - as it was last year - a demonstration in favor of what Moshe Keinan has called "true morality" in the army, demanding that the IDF cease putting soldiers at risk in order to avoid collateral damage among residents of the enemy Palestinian Authority.
The marchers were encouraged and blessed by former Chief Rabbi and Rishon Lezion Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who was on his way back from prayers at the tomb of the Biblical patriarch Joseph, located in Shechem (Nablus).
Last year at this time, Keinan and other bereaved Shilo families marched from the community cemetery to the President's Residence in Jerusalem, where they set up a sukkah/protest tent.