Israelis mourn, honor 2 soldiers
Middle East: Two countries contrast in moods after Wednesday's prisoner exchange, which closes chapter from 2006 war
Lebanese celebrate freedom.
Israelis mourn, honor 2 soldiers
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By The Associated Press
Published: July 18, 2008
NAHARIYA, Israel — Thousands of Israelis prayed and cried at funerals Thursday for two soldiers whose return from Lebanon in black coffins touched off a nationwide wave of anguish.
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Will time heal pain?
Soldiers carried Regev's casket, draped with the Israeli flag, into the military cemetery in the northern city of Haifa. A military rabbi chanted as Regev's father leaned on another family member, who comforted him. Thousands of other mourners trailed behind.
Regev's brother, Ofer Regev, bitterly denounced Hezbollah for refusing to say during the two years whether the two men were dead or alive.
Earlier in the day, soldiers from Goldwasser's reserve unit, who asked to be called up to duty for the day, carried his casket to the grave, lowering it into the ground in Nahariya.
In keeping with Jewish tradition, Goldwasser's father, Shlomo, wore a shirt ripped at the front to signify mourning.
His widow, Karnit, held on to her father-in-law as each wiped away tears.
"Maybe time will allow the bleeding wounds to heal,” she said.
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