tests

Friday, July 16, 1999 3 Av 5759 Updated Fri., Jul. 16 02:22

Tests show mix-up of naval commandos' remains
By DAVID RUDGE

               TEL AVIV (July 16) - Tests on the remains taken from the grave
               of naval commando Guy Golan have revealed that they were
               those of another soldier killed in the disastrous raid in south
               Lebanon nearly two years ago.

               The IDF Spokesman announced last night that the remains are in
               fact those of Golan's comrade, Raz Tebi. This was determined
               through DNA and dental tests at the National Forensic Institute at
               Abu Kabir.

               The army exhumed the remains following a High Court of Justice
               ruling last month based on an agreement among the IDF Judge
               Advocate-General, the parents of Golan, and the father of Tebi.
               Nachshon Tebi's estranged wife, Yardena, joined the
               respondents and opposed her husband in court.

Nachshon Tebi told reporters last night the findings had
vindicated him, and showed "that I'm not crazy, but the IDF was."

               3PO Guy Golan and 3PO Raz Tebi were killed along with nine
               other naval commandos and a doctor in September 1997 near
               Ansariya village, north of the security zone. Most of the remains
               of those killed were brought back to Israel in an evacuation
               mission.

               The remains of one commando, 3PO Itamar Ilya, were returned to
               Israel nine months later, along with other body parts. These were
               buried, after a process of identification, in the graves of Golan
               and Tebi.

               But Golan's parents and Nachshon Tebi feared that the body
               parts may have become mixed, and demanded a positive
               identification. When the IDF refused, they petitioned the High
               Court.

               The statement issued by the spokesman said the IDF would
               continue to coordinate with the families and inform them of any
               future steps, and would only act in accordance with their wishes.
               Another statement said the IDF apologized for the mistake and
               the grief, suffering, and deep sorrow caused to the families.

               "It is a very difficult evening for me and the families," OC
               Manpower Maj.-Gen. Yehuda Segev told reporters at a press
               conference in Tel Aviv last night.

               "It's hard to believe that such a big mistake was made. We now
               have to examine ourselves and work together with the families
               and see how to continue."

Segev stressed that such an error was a very rare occurrence
and did not relate to the others who were killed in the disaster.