The father of one of the Israeli soldiers killed in Friday's car ramming attack has called on Israel to apply the death penalty to terrorists, saying, "Otherwise, this terrorism will never end."
Danny Kahalani called for the death penalty following the murder of his son, Sgt. Netanel Kahalani, 20, from the northern town of Elyakim, and of Capt. Ziv Daos, 21, from the central town of Azur, who were killed when a Palestinian terrorist ran them down near the Samarian town of Mevo Dotan. Two other soldiers were seriously wounded in the attack.
Kahalani was laid to rest Saturday night in a military plot in Elyakim, while Daos' funeral was held at noon on Sunday in a cemetery in the central Israeli city of Holon.
"From school we sent him to the army," Danny Kahalani said.
"And we got him back like this.
"I don't yet know what happened there. Netanel dreamed of traveling the world after his discharge [from military service].
"He was a very popular boy and always loved to help – me and everyone else. He always took care of everyone and was caring and kind. He never held a grudge, never had haters and wherever he went he was always welcome.
"My heart hurts for him. This is a blow to the whole family. I don't know how we will cope. This has broken me. They took something from me and now I don't know if I can stand on my legs. We aren't comprehending. I don't know how to continue life. We loved Netanel so much, he was so connected to us. He was such a sensitive and caring boy, I don't know how I will continue living."
Kahalani's mother, Naomi, said, "He was a gift, people everywhere loved him. I thank God for giving him to me. He was a pure soul with a heart of gold. I loved him so much. He will be in my heart forever."
Naomi Kahalani said her son had celebrated his 20th birthday with a karaoke party with his friends recently.
"He loved it [the party] so much that they partied until the morning," she said painfully. "He was popular and social."
Netanel Kahalani, a routine security driver in the Central Command's Menashe Regional Brigade, is the third of five brothers. His eldest brother is a student, his second-eldest brother currently serves in the Golani Infantry Brigade's 12th Battalion, and his two younger brothers are in school.
Megiddo Regional Council head Itzik Holevski, a personal acquaintance of the Kahalani family, visited the family on Saturday night to pay his respects.
"In the name of the Megiddo Regional Council and the residents, I want to express my sorrow at the shock of Netanel Kahalani's passing, may his memory be a blessing. The whole council bows its head in memory of a soldier who was talented, wise and pleasant, a wonderful son and a distinguished soldier."
The other soldier killed in the attack, Ziv Daos, was a platoon commander in the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Brigade who was initially barred from combat service due to his medical profile. But he insisted on combat service and fought to be eligible.
His family said he was killed almost three years to the day after being drafted.
After hearing of the attack, his worried mother tried to call him, but he did not answer. The IDF informed his parents of his death after they returned from Shabbat synagogue services on Friday evening.
"Ziv was a quiet and gentle boy, who loved people and was modest," said his uncle, Yonatan Daos.
"He did everything he could to contribute to the country, to serve and build it. He raised his [medical] profile in order to be a fighter. These [terrorists] are people motivated by hatred, but we are motivated by love. In the end, the one who comes from love will win.
"Half a year ago, Ziv told my mother, 'Go buy a watch for one of my soldiers from my money, not from your money.' He said his soldier kept being punished because he had no watch and was always late. My mom told me this a few months ago, and this says something of his values."
Weeping and cries of anguish were heard from the Daos home as dozens of family members and friends came to support the family.
Daos' great uncle, Israel Daos, was notably killed in action during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Neighbor Michal Sagiv said, "Ziv fought to raise his profile to be a combat soldier and be selected for officers' course because he was asthmatic. He wanted to serve and be a combat soldier. I saw him last month, when he and his friend were out on a furlough, and we spoke. He really loved his service. His mother talked about her anxiety about his service. He was a very pleasant and courteous conversationalist, and had a gorgeous baby-face. His mother told me today, 'I will no longer hang uniforms on the clothing line.'"
Uriel Tanaami, a member of the nearby regional council and a close friend of the family who knew Daos from childhood, visited the family as well.
"I know Ziv from the synagogue, where he would arrive with his dad and grandfather," Tanaami said.
"He was a boy who belonged to the neighborhood and the town and everyone feel the family's pain. He was a boy who respected mankind and fell protecting the homeland. Only now do we hear about his military service; he did not tell us.
"He was the salt of the earth and the government must avenge him to defeat these attacks. No one thought that this could happen here to us."
Daos is the first member of his brigade to be killed in action. The brigade, established five years ago, includes three battalions involved in operations in Judea and Samaria as well as along the Egyptian border.
