Sgt. Ron Yitzhak Kokia, Murdered in Stabbing Attack, Laid to Rest

Jerusalem, 3 December, 2017 (TPS) -- Sgt. Ron Yitzhak Kokia, a 19-year-old IDF soldier, was laid to rest Sunday at the Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv. Kokia was stabbed to death in the city of Arad, east of Beer Sheva, on Thursday night. Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis represented the government at the funeral; the IDF was represented by  Gen. Roni Numa, commanding officer of the IDF Central Command and Gen. Eyal Zamir, head of the IDF Southern Command.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu eulogised Koka at the weekly cabinet meeting, saying “in the name of government ministers (and the) citizens of Israel, I send my condolences to the soldier, Sg. Ron Yitzhak Kokia.

“Security forces are working hard to apprehend the lowly murderer as quickly as possible. I have no question that the Shin Bet will succeed in this mission  and we will bring (the killer) to justice,” Netanyahu said.

Security officials believe the terrorist stole Kokia’s service rifle, and conducted wide-spread searches in the South Hebron Hills region following the attack. The family reportedly donated Koka’s corneas. “Everyone in our family has an organ donation card,” told the Hebrew-language Ynet website. “Saving lives is a supreme value.”