The tragedy in the IDF:
Sergeant Natan Pitousi (20), who was accidentally shot to death by his unit mate yesterday near Tul Kerem, is now (Tuesday) being laid to rest in the military cemetery in Netanya.
The fighter apparently informed his unit mate that he was going to pray the Arabic prayer, but when he returned to the position he was identified by his comrade as a suspect - and was accidentally shot to death by him.
"A polite boy with a constant smile"
In Netanya they received the news of the death of the soldier Natan Pitosi with astonishment, and had difficulty digesting the bitter news.
Fitousi was killed last night (Monday) by the fire of his unit mate, after he thought he was a terrorist, and shot him.
Fitosi apparently went to pray after informing his friend, and when he returned to the position the disaster happened.
His funeral will take place today at 18:45 at the military cemetery in Netanya.
Israel Hayom learned that Pitosi's sister received the news while she was abroad, and today she made her way back to Israel.
The soldier was taken to the hospital in critical condition, photo: no
Ethel and Saloma, Natan's twin sisters, said: "We are not surprised that it happened when he was praying, because his whole life was prayer. He was righteous. God did not just choose him. Natan loved the army, he knew it was holy work."
About the soldier who shot, the sisters said: "We are not angry with him. He is a friend of Natan's. He was at our house several times. We know it was a mistake."
Chaya Rubinstein, who ran the "Tamar Ariel" high school in Netanya where Pitosi studied, told about the beloved student she lost.
"Nathan finished his studies two years ago at school and enlisted," she says.
"His family immigrated from France when Natan was in elementary school. Natan always aspired to be a part of everyone, to fit in, to succeed and to go beyond what he needed. His determination and his desire to succeed stood by him and he managed to fit in, finished school with a good matriculation certificate and enlisted with pride."
Meir Fitosi, a friend of the family, said when he left their house: "I have known the boy for many years. All the people of Israel are crying, you don't understand what a family is. The father is a dentist, he left everything in France and came with his children to Israel. The hardest thing is that he is an only child There are three other girls. There are no explanations for such a blow. It really hurts. And we also think about the soldier who shot him, it's really terrible.
Family friend Meir Pitosi,
"He was a gentle, polite boy, with a smile. A good family. They came to them at one in the morning and gave them the hard news. What saves the family is that they have faith. I would have collapsed. It is very difficult. In one minute the world was destroyed. In one minute her world was destroyed of this family. There is no reason for such a child to go. The father kept talking to him and kept going to the base. He arrived only two days ago in Tulkarm. The father is crying for the child and also for the soldier. He is thinking about what happened to the soldier who shot his friend. The father also knows The soldier. It is very difficult. They are not angry with the soldier Shira, there is no anger. They feel sorry for him and love him and I am sure they will also go to visit him. They understand that what happened was an accident."
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