A solemn, sad. ceremony took place yesterday in no-man’s land between the Israeli and Egyptian forces near Kantara, on the Kantara-Baloosa road, as 19 coffins containing remains of Israeli soldiers were turned over to the Army Burial Society of the Army Chaplainship and 27 coffins containing remains of Egyptian soldiers were given to the Egyptian authorities. An Israeli army chaplainship unit provided the guard of honor at the transfer of the dead soldiers.
This is the second time that the Egyptians turned over remains of Israeli soldiers killed during the first stages of the Yom Kippur War along the Barlev line in areas now under Egyptian control. Previously the Egyptians have returned the bodies of some 30 Israeli soldiers killed during the battle in the town of Suez.
Altogether Egypt will return about 90 bodies of dead Israeli soldiers in addition to bodies of 6 Israeli soldiers who, the Egyptians claim, were captured wounded and died in Egyptian hospitals. Israel will return to the Egyptians 145 of their soldiers killed in action in areas under Israeli control. Army Deputy Chief Chaplain Col. Rabbi Gad Navon, recited El Moleh Rahamim and chapters of Psalms as the bodies were transferred to Israeli army vehicles for reburial in Israeli cemeteries after identification is completed.
The search for other Israeli soldiers killed in action in areas under Egyptian control, chiefly in the area under the Egyptian Second Army’s control, was to be resumed today. Until now only very limited sections of the area were opened for such searches. Now it is hoped, the Egyptians will allow searches deeper inside their lines. The search and exchange of soldiers’ remains is a result of the disengagement agreement.
A report from Cairo said that two Egyptian Jews, Moshe Aharon Yona and Menahem Avraham Mori, two Gaboyim of the Chief Rabbi Aharon Chadid of Alexandria, were invited by the Egyptian authorities to say a prayer–El Moleh Rahamim–as the bodies of three Israeli soldiers were prepared for transfer to the Israeli authorities. The two Egyptian Jews were given great honor–it was said.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
