The monument disappeared 20 years ago, after many cases of vandalism • The families, with the help of Sde Kfar Etzion School, demand: "Put it back - it is a surrender to terrorism"
The missing monument
Photo:
Kfar Etzion Field School
Nissan Ripman, 79, the younger brother of David Ripman, who was killed in an attack on a teenage convoy in December 1947 while it was on its way to the besieged Gush Etzion, has been wondering for many years where the monument in their memory, erected where the attack took place, has disappeared.
With the help of the Kfar Etzion Field School and his friend Avraham Cohen, an application was made to the Ministry of Defense for answers on the subject.
Over the years, many cases of vandalism were committed at the monument, until it mysteriously disappeared.
In recent months, the Ripman family has renewed efforts to find out what caused her disappearance, and after years of receiving no answers from any relevant cause, they have now learned that it was destroyed and evacuated 20 years ago, apparently by the state.
"We want them back. Nissan is the only one left in the family. He was 5 when his brother was killed, he doesn't remember much about him," said his wife, Esther Ripman.
Avraham Cohen, a friend of Nissan, said: "This is a kind of surrender to terrorism. No one even bothered to update the families. This is a violation of the dignity of the victims and the families."
Kfar Etzion Field School volunteered to help Nissan, and a letter sent to the Ministry of Defense read: "Instead of moving the monument to a protected place, you preferred to give it up completely. The treatment so far is not respectful, neither the memory of the fallen nor their families. We appeal to you to act on the way Appropriate and as soon as possible to rebuild it. "
Amichai Noam, vice president of Kfar Etzion Field School, said: "We have undertaken to continue carrying the torch of the bloc.
From this we mobilized to help please return to the mother of the road the monument in memory of the fallen of the teenage convoy.
We hope that the Ministry of Defense will respond to the request, and we will of course be happy to be partners in its placement and retention, as well as to act in memory of the fallen. "
The Ministry of Defense responded: "An application for the construction of a monument in the area of a local authority is made through the local council. In a telephone conversation with Nissan, he was explained that in order to handle the application, he must submit a request for its construction.
The Gush Etzion Regional Council said: "It is an honor for us to work to commemorate the heroes who fought for Gush Etzion and for the rebirth of Israel in it. We will contact the decision-makers on the subject as soon as possible."
