"My Asaf, my hero" • The family of the late battle navigator in pain and begging: "Give him the respect he deserves"

(haipo) - The family of the late navigator Asaf Dagan, submitted a petition to the High Court this week (Sunday 17/11/2024), demanding that a military burial be arranged for Asaf. His mother, Miri: "They left us no choice, a terrible injustice was done to Assaf and us."
Assaf was 38 years old when he died. Assaf grew up in the Carmelia neighborhood in Haifa, graduated from the Hogim school and supported the Maccabi Haifa soccer team.

Petition to the High Court: to conduct a military burial

Miri Dagan, the mother of the combat navigator Major (ret.) Asaf Dagan, late, filed a petition with the High Court of Justice against the Minister of Defense, the Ministry of Defense, the Chief of Staff, the head of the AKA and the IDF (High Court of Justice 40294-11 -24 Dagan v. Israel Katz et al.). In the petition submitted through attorney Yuval Yoaz from Karniel & Co., the Supreme Court was asked to issue an order, ordering the respondents to conduct a military burial for the late IDF Major General Assaf Dagan, in accordance with their duty under the law.

"A crushed mother is addressing you"

The petition was supported by the affidavit of the late Assaf's mother, who wrote, among other things: "I turn to you, honorable judges, a crushed and disintegrated mother after the loss of my son. Honorable judges, I appeal to you. My son has not been buried yet, for over three weeks. My soul is tormented Every day the IDF shows extreme favor to an outstanding officer who served the country and the IDF with endless loyalty 20 years in a row. A military burial comes to my son by right, not by grace, and at the same time, I ask you to show compassion and consideration for our special situation, our tormented souls, and our absolute helplessness."

The family of the late Assaf met with incoming Defense Minister Israel Katz

In a meeting that took place last night (Monday 18/11/24) the incoming Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, with the family of the late Major Assaf, to which the professionals in the defense system were invited, the Minister of Defense instructed the IDF to examine in depth the claims made by the family, and in addition instructed the IDF to cooperate with the family in all matters related to the transfer of requested information and documents.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister asked Miri, Assaf's mother, to tell about Assaf. Miri spoke at length about his life and military service, from his beginnings in the paratroopers' brigade, his departure for an officer's course as part of the paratroopers, his fighting in the Second Lebanon War, until his late volunteering for a pilot's course, his graduation with honors and his becoming an outstanding combat navigator in the 109 squadron, along with his many years of volunteering in various associations and organizations, and up to his many activities In the reserves from the day of his official release until his death The tragic one, over three weeks ago.
The minister instructed the professional officials at the meeting to re-examine the family's request. Among other things, the minister stressed to the professionals: "We are all (the professional team and the family) on the same side," and instructed the IDF to work in cooperation with the family until a solution is found.

"My brother dedicated his life to the army"

Assaf was one brother of a trio: Neta, Inbal and Assaf himself. His sister Inbal explains why it is so important to the family that Assaf be buried in a military burial: "My brother dedicated his life to the army," she says painfully. "This is not a situation of someone who was released from the IDF and after years his family requests a military burial. Assaf was in active reserve service. He was released 4 years ago from the regular army, and his job continued to be reserve service.

When the police came to my mother's house to inform her of the disaster, she did not understand why the police came and not the soldiers, because he was in reserve service. We brought the evidence to the Ministry of Defense, that he was on his way to reserve service. For all of the last 4 years he was in active reserve service. Asaf has deteriorated greatly in the past year. He served nonstop during the Iron Swords War."

'A rare person among the rare'

What kind of person was Assaf?
"Assaf was an elevation in terms of his achievements and excellence. He excelled in everything he did. In high school, in the courses he took in the army, in his first degree at Ben Gurion University and his second degree at Reichman University. He was a genius, but he was much more than that. He was a man of giving and kindness. He was a pure human being, he volunteered endlessly in the army, he would return from the military service in the paratroopers every two weeks or so Three and was going to volunteer with people with disabilities.

When he finished a pilot course, a whole busload of trainees from the AKIM Association arrived. This is one of the rarest of rare people. When he was at the peak of his service as a fighter pilot, he volunteered with a blind runner for the Paralympic Olympics in Rio. They ran together with my brother acting as his eyes during the run. They They didn't reach the criteria for the Olympics. He continued to train with other blind people even after that In the "Florentine in a pot" project, where they cook with the girls of the third year and at the end they also publish a recipe book. His hand was in everything for the sake of the other. He did not reveal any state secrets either."

'Became a withdrawn and isolated person'

What was his condition?
"It was impossible not to see his post-traumatic symptoms. We saw a deterioration about 4 years ago. He finished his regular service and moved to serve almost full-time in the reserves. He did not look for another job after his release. At his peak, Assaf was an outstanding human being, who succeeds in everything that he does. He was an outstanding navigator. The deterioration led him to become a secondary navigator, and two years ago he became a recluse And lonely. He didn't answer my calls and messages, didn't come on holidays.

He didn't even come to our joint birthday. He could not be reached. He could not tolerate lights or even light noises, such as a phone ringing. He became short tempered. I understand that as part of the post-trauma, he went from a guy who lives in Tel Aviv and serves in the army, to a guy who changes places of residence (sublet) to quiet places, like the settlements of the Carmel Coast. Until this moment we do not know where he lived in his last days and where his belongings are. Because of his condition, he was unable to come and ask for help or go to treatment. For 4 whole years, my mother turned to every possible source in the country, in the Ministry of Defense and in the army, and warned Assaf that he needed help, and her appeals were simply ignored."

How are you coping?
"The situation is very difficult. The shock of Assaf's death is not enough, we cannot be in mourning, because we are in a struggle. We find ourselves in a struggle against an opaque system. My brother served this system and was a valued officer, and on the day of his death he was on his way to reserve service, and still is No one hears us.

His service was rare. The head of the AKA told us that he does not know people who started their service in the infantry as an officer in the paratroopers and later became pilots. This is something that is extremely rare. Honorable President Boji Herzog called me and my mother and expressed support and sympathy in our struggle to bring Assaf to a military burial."

He was on his way to duty in the Air Force

In the petition it is claimed that the totality of the evidence shows that on the day he ended his life, 23/10/24, the late Asaf was on his way to duty at the Air Force pit in Kirya. Therefore, he should be considered as someone who was killed on his way to the reserve service, and is entitled to a military burial in accordance with the Military Cemeteries Law .

Also, the petition contains confidential details regarding the position Assaf held in the reserves, as well as additional evidence that Assaf was supposed to report for duty on the day of his death. Among the evidence are WhatsApp correspondence and recordings between him and commanders in his unit.

In addition, the petition specifies that on the day of his death, Zaman was hurriedly summoned to report to his unit to be on standby, as well as evidence regarding the condition of his body as it was found and the items he packed in his bag, indicating that he was on his way to duty in Kirya.

"Give Assaf the respect he deserves and us the opportunity to mourn"

In the petition, Assaf's mother detailed the process of deterioration in Assaf's condition due to mental distress, which occurred during his military service, and the causal link between Assaf's death and the post-trauma he suffered due to his military service. This is alongside detailing her attempts to get help from countless sources, and the fact that she warned them about his mental state when he was still alive.

Miri: "Assaf Shelley, the hero of Israel, who contributed to the army, the country and the community for half of his life, must be buried in a military burial. I am sure that the honorable judges in the Supreme Court will do justice to Assaf and us, will give him the respect he deserves and allow us to mourn him. I want to thank all the people of Israel for the hug and support and for every contribution that helps us in the legal fight. The honor of the State of Israel will begin where the last honor of my children ends."

'It is impossible to digest the IDF's renunciation'

Lawyer Yuval Yoaz, who represents the Dagan family at the High Court: "The IDF and the Ministry of Defense, and above all the Minister of Defense, should have ended this case long before we turned, without a choice, to the High Court. It is impossible to digest the fact that the IDF shirks its basic duty towards a dedicated and outstanding officer, a combat navigator who dedicated his life to his military service, regular and reserve. What the IDF and the Ministry of Defense do not understand on their own, the judges of the High Court will have to explain to them, and hold a military funeral ceremony as soon as possible".