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Israel mourns soldiers killed in air crash
February 5, 1997
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. EST (1800 GMT)JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A sorrowful nation prepared Wednesday to bury 73 Israeli soldiers killed in the crash of two military helicopters in northern Israel.
Israel has not mourned so many dead since its 1982 war in Lebanon. Funerals will be held over the next few days in Israel, and the entire nation is in mourning until Thursday evening.
The soldiers were killed Tuesday when their CH-53 Sikorsky transport helicopters collided in darkness as they were on their way to the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon. It was the country's worst military aircraft disaster.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a meeting with Jordan's King Hussein scheduled for Wednesday and a meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat set for Thursday.
He offered condolences to the nation and praised the soldiers who risk their lives in defense of Israel.
"This is a tragedy, a burden that is difficult to sustain," he said in a televised address. "We have lost tens of our best and bravest soldiers. ... Our thoughts are with the families, in the hope that we shall know no more grief."
Netanyahu visited the crash site, noting that "our quest for peace involves constant sacrifices" as he watched the recovery efforts.
In the Knesset, Israeli parliament members stood in silence for the victims of the tragedy, and across the country flags were lowered to half-staff.
Netanyahu defends Israeli involvement in Lebanon
Rescue workers were still recovering bodies and charred pieces of equipment Wednesday morning. One of the helicopters fell near a vacant summer cottage, and the other crashed into a cemetery. Munitions aboard the helicopters set off a series of explosions.
There were no casualties on the ground.
Although the weather in the area was bad at the time of the crash, sources told CNN that it was not believed to be the cause. An investigation was under way by a inquiry committee set up by Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai. The panel is expected to explore the possibility of human error.
More than 200 Israeli soldiers have died in southern Lebanon since Israel established the security zone there in 1985. But Netanyahu defended Israel's involvement, telling reporters at the crash site that the people of northern Israel "know better than any how these soldiers and heroic commanders take risks" to protect them.
"We are not going to be deterred, and we are not going to relent," the prime minister said. "We shall defend our country. We shall reduce the risk. Ultimately, we shall achieve peace, too."
Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Military helicopters collide in Israel, killing scores - February 4, 1997
- Military helicopters collide over northern Israel - February 4, 1997
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