Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman Laid to Rest After Decades-Long Search
After going missing during the First Lebanon War in 1982, Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman was finally laid to rest at Israel’s Holon Military Cemetery on Monday, bringing closure to a national and personal tragedy that spanned decades.
Feldman disappeared during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, a fierce tank engagement between Israeli and Syrian forces in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.
He was one of three Israeli soldiers reported missing after the battle. The remains of one soldier, Sgt. First Class Zachary Baumel, were returned in 2019. The third soldier, Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, remains unaccounted for.
The recovery of Feldman’s body was made possible through a covert operation carried out by the Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally informed the Feldman family of the discovery.
During the funeral, Feldman’s sister, Anat, emotionally spoke about her brother’s dedication to Israel, describing his return as a moment of deep pride and sorrow. She referred to him as “a warrior who died defending our people.”
Feldman’s brother, Itzik, also delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral, expressing deep pain, hope, and faith. Netanyahu shared a video clip of Itzik’s remarks on his social media account, highlighting the emotional impact of the tribute.
Netanyahu expressed his emotions on social media, writing, “I was deeply moved to hear the words of Itzik Feldman at the funeral of his brother, Staff Sgt. Zvi Feldman, who fell in Lebanon. We are not stopping for a moment. We are working day and night to bring back all our sons and daughters—all of our hostages.”
The repatriation of Feldman’s remains underscores Israel’s enduring commitment to bringing home all missing soldiers. Netanyahu reiterated this commitment during his remarks, emphasizing the government’s promise to bring back Feldman and its fulfillment of that pledge.
