Jerusalem – Three days after being reported missing in the Jerusalem Forest while hiking with a friend, the family of 23-year-old American yeshiva student Aaron Sofer said they are dissatisfied with the progress of the search, and demanded military intervention.
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Despite hundreds of police officers, volunteers and the emergency response and rescue organizations ZAKA and United Hatzalah actively searching for Sofer since Saturday, no clues as to his whereabouts have surfaced as of Monday evening.
“A physically, mentally and emotionally healthy young man does not go missing for 72 hours,” said Sofer family spokesman, Dov Hirth on Monday. “The family is not satisfied with the way the search and rescue operation has been handled thus far.”
Moreover, Hirth cited the Muhammad Abu Khdeir murder in the same forest last month, allegedly by Jewish assailants, compounded by heightened tensions with Palestinians, as cause for alarm.
“It’s well known that a murder took place in that forest, and especially with the ongoing tensions with Palestinians, we feel there should be a military presence and involvement in the search for Aaron,” he said.
Sofer, who is haredi and from Lakewood, New Jersey, was last seen in the Beit Zayit area of the woods Friday morning, before he and a friend became separated while navigating a steep incline.
Concerned after not reuniting with him several hours later, the unidentified friend contacted police to file a missing person’s report, which led to the intensive manhunt, as well as Sofer’s parents flying to Israel to aid in the growing search.
While the manhunt initially generated numerous headlines, Hirth said the family is now concerned that the story has since lost traction.
“The fact of the matter is we have a young man missing for no apparent reason, and it was on page one of all the newspapers and then the coverage just stopped,” he said. “This needs to continue to be a major story.”
Police describe Sofer as approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, slender, with a close-cropped red beard, wearing glasses, a white shirt, yalmuka and black trousers at the time of his disappearance.
Anyone with information that may assist in locating Sofer has been asked to call 02-5391520, or the Israel Police hotline at 100.
NOW they want the IDF! HaShem, please give them the IDF and let’s pray they find the young man alive.
Then the Israeli government should suspend all funding to this Yeshiva until it bans it’s students from the horrendous hadganot against the government and acknowledges that the IDF is a valid choice for Yeshiva students.
The family has no right to “demand” anything. There are literally hundreds of police and security personnel assigned to the search. At this time of daily rocket fired from Gaza, the IDF has its hands full protecting the borders and cannot be diverted to searching for a missing hiker.
The family has EVERY right to demand safety and security for their son. Besides the Israeli police and IDF the American state dept should be HEAVILY involved. This is an American citizen who deserves protection. We all expect that when we travel abroad, and we all deserve that (Maybe not you). Bsuros Tovos B’korov!
TO NO. 8. YOU ARE RIGHT , BUT DID YOU HERE ANYTHING FROM OBAMA OR HIS STATE DEPT? IF IT WERE A FELLOW MUSLIM , OBAMA WOULD HARP RIGHT AWAY AND GET INVOLVED!!!!(REMEMBER THE AMERICAN MUSLIM KID WHO WAS INJURED IN GAZA AND HOW OBAMA CONDEMNED THE ISRAELIS FOR THAT?)
If their son would go missing in Lakewood, New Jersey, would they demand that U.S. Marine Crops deploy troops for his search or would they accept the fact that NJ rescue services, lots of volunteers and perhaps a few local police departments would be assigned for search? IDF does not routinely conduct search efforts unless there is evidence that someone has been kidnapped by terror groups into West Bank. Israel National Police and Hatzolah volunteers are well capable to conduct a search effort of a forest. And even if there is suspected foul-play, INP is professional and experienced enough to handle any investigation. IDF is busy mobilizing reserves and trying to bring calm to border towns as Gaza Operation has proven to be a complex headache thus far.
It’s time for yeshivos to emphasize to their students not to wonder-off into forest hikes or hitchhike for rides. None of these young guys have boys-scouts training and getting lost in the smallest forest is too easy.
Are all of you playing devil’s advocate? Ofcourse the US should be involved when their citizen may be in harm’s way. This is not a lost hiker who forgot his compass home. His life may G-d forbid be in serious danger. With Obama at the helm this behaviour seems very appropriate.
The Torah learning in the boy’s yeshiva will bring him back safely, not the IDF.