Family of victim who drove Elad terrorist for illegal work say he's a hero

Relatives of Oren Ben Yiftah, who was killed along with two others in the deadly stabbing spree, say he was an innocent shuttle driver trying to make a living; add he wasn't required to check work permits
Roi Rubinstein|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
The family of one of the three victims who were murdered in the terror attack in Elad on Thursday, said their loved one was a hero and a victim after it had emerged that he drove the two terrorists to the predominantly Haredi city for illegal work.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • "Oren was a victims of the deadly terror attack," said the family in a statement.
    4 View gallery
    בועז גול, אורן בן יפתח, יונתן חבקוק
    בועז גול, אורן בן יפתח, יונתן חבקוק
    The victims of the Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022, from left to right; Boaz Gol, Yonatan Havakuk and Oren Ben Yiftah
    Oren Ben Yiftah, 35, a resident of Lod, is survived by six children and a wife, who posted a message on Facebook on Saturday night, calling on the public to have mercy on their family.
    "Israeli people, spare us in this hard time. Please give us time to grieve during the Shiva days without dealing with defending ourselves from vicious attacks," she wrote.
    "We're shocked by the discourse on social media platforms that mercilessly try to hold our beloved son accountable for the sinful attack that he himself fell victim to. Oren worked as an honest and innocent shuttle driver trying to make a living. Just as a taxi driver doesn't check who gets on the taxi, he wasn't required to check work permits, as opposed to a contractor that employed workers," said the statement from the family.
    4 View gallery
    הזירה באלעד
    הזירה באלעד
    Security forces pouring into the scene of the attack in Elad, May 5, 2022
    (Photo: Shaul Golan)
    "It may have been that at the end of that drive he was asked to drive workers to a synagogue construction site and that's what he did, not knowing it would be the drive to his death. As far as we know, Oren fought like a hero against the evil assassins that attacked him with an axe and a knife - like in the darkest times of exile and slaughter of Jews."
    The family shared that their efforts in now directed towards helping the widow and six children deal with the horrible tragedy.
    "We all hope that the bitter terrorists get caught and assassinated in the same way they took the life of Oren."
    4 View gallery
    Troops search for escaped terrorists who killed three in Elad on Thursday
    Troops search for escaped terrorists who killed three in Elad on Thursday
    Troops search for escaped terrorists who killed three in Elad on Thursday
    (Photo: Dana Kopel )
    Ben Yiftah was laid to rest in Lod on Friday, where his wife eulogized him: "My love, the perfect husband, I can't describe in words the pure soul that lays here in front of me. For me you are alive, only yesterday we sang the Lover's Oath song together".
    "How did you leave me? How will I tell the children?" she continued. "You gave your soul for the name of HaShem. Oren, I love you, we were never ashamed to say so. We were together for 12 years and never gave up saying it to one another."
    Rafael, Oren's son, eulogized: "I love you, when will you come back to pick me up from kindergarten? I hope that you feel good in the sky, I know that a bad man hurt you."
    4 View gallery
    Sabhi abu Shakir (L) and As’ad Alrafa’ani named as main suspects in Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022
    Sabhi abu Shakir (L) and As’ad Alrafa’ani named as main suspects in Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022
    Sabhi abu Shakir (L) and As’ad Alrafa’ani named as main suspects in Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022
    (Photo: Israel Police)
    On Saturday, it was reveaed that Ben Yiftah was the driver of the shuttle that carried the two terrorist to their murder spree, thninking he war driving Palestinian workers without an Israeli permit.
    The terrorists - As’ad Alrafa’ani (19) and Sabhi abu Shakir (20), both from Rumana near the city of Jenin - escaped from the scene of the crime, and an ongoing manhunt is taking place in search for them.
    2Comments
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    2.
    But no wondering why arab go to israeli town onyom atzmaut?
    not smart
    David| 05.08.22
    40
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    1.
    go after the commanders! they ones ordering such terror!
    Terrorists need to be made afraid. If Hamas praises and says they ordered it, then we need to go after them. Whoever says he did or ordered, he is the commander then he is the one who needs to pay the price along the direct perpetrators. Only like this they will be afraid of entering a Jewish neighborhood w a knife etc. To axe people on the streets. They are not afraid, so we need to go after the commanders. Not necessary the main guy, but every time they do something like this, the commanders need to know that someone of them will pay the price! Then they will stop doing this. There is command responsibility, so if Hamas commanders assume, they ordered these crimes, well they accept that they are responsible for these terror acts and are therefore legitimate targets by our forces. Apaisement is not going to help in these cases. If they said, they are ordering this because of temple mount, then we need to go with our flags via the Damacus gate to temple mount one more time. every time they do this, this si the way we can honor these martyrs. The place of choice fo Muslims is MEKKA is not Jerusalem! nothing links Muslim to Jerusalem, That house of idol worshipping was built by the Ottomans (they lived in the place which is now Turkey) in the 16th century. (This is one thousand & 600 years after our last Temple was destroyed by the Romans in year 69 CE) . It could be anyone else to build that house there, Christians, Buddhists, Confuzi, Babyloniens Hindus etc. But to say that because some extremists built their house there, it is their city, it is awkward! So if Muslims really love their god, their god is in MEKKA not in Jerusalem! this is what needs to be said to these intoxicated young people, and the commanders need to be made to pay the price! only like this they will stop ordering these terror acts.
    Dan| 05.08.22
    20
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""