Widow of Baruch Mizrahi, Hy”d, Pleads for Demolition Of Terrorist’s House

In an impassioned speech to the Israeli High Court on Monday, Hadas Mizrahi, the widow of slain Commander Baruch Mizrahi, Hy”d, demanded that the state demolish the home of her husband’s murderer.

Earlier this week, a petition was filed in the High Court to block the demolition.

But it is, said Mrs. Mizrahi, the minimum that should be done.

Mizrahi was driving to Kiryat Arba for the Pesach Seder with his family this year  with his wife and three of his children when a terrorist opened fire on the family car. He had served as head of the Technology Division in the Sigint Unit, part of the Intelligence Brigade in the Investigations and Intelligence Branch of the police.

“Look at us. We are innocent people who are suffering. We were driving to the Seder in our car when [the terrorist] shot at us. He hit Baruch in the head; I managed to hide our children.”

“He ran away,” she said, through tears. “What cruelty is this! We did nothing wrong; we were innocent.”

Mizrahi warned that preventing the demolition from going through would be a missed opportunity to deter future terrorists.

“Maybe demolishing this house will be a deterrent,” she cried. “I am crying to the state of Israel: Take care of us. We are your people!”

Mizrahi later discussed the terrible injustice with Arutz Sheva.

“I came to court today to try to speak to the judge and tell him — ‘We are talking [about saving] the terrorist’s home, and what about me?’” she asked. “I was left with five children, a mother wounded with children who are injured mentally and physically —what, I’m not a part of all this?”

“This terrorist was released as part of a ‘gesture’ and he murdered again,” she continued. “He should have thought twice if he had not wanted to see his home demolished. It is the minimum that should be done.” Mizrahi added that the entire experience, overall, was “strange.”

“It’s strange for me to come and ask for [the home to be demolished], as strange as it would be for me to ask for the death penalty,” she said, adding that “it’s obvious he deserves the death penalty.”

“But apparently the state does not understand this, and everyone goes to petition [against it],” she added. “I say to that: ‘Look me in the eyes. Look at me.’”

In response to the petition against the demolition, the Court cited the deteriorating security situation, including the kidnapping of three teenagers, as reason for deterrent action.

“[The terrorist was] released as part of [the Shalit] deal [which] was contingent on not engaging in any terrorist activity. Within a short time he returned to serious terrorism, which also included calling on [the populace] as an imam for suicide attacks against Israeli targets.”

The state also noted that the murder was premeditated, with several “practice sessions,” and that the building had — in any case — been slated for demolition “for years” before the murder.

This article appeared in print on page 10 of the July 1st, 2014 edition of Hamodia.