On Monday State Attorney Eran Shendar issued orders to permit
the burial of Shimon Zviker, the boy from Itamar who drowned
in Lake Nitzanim, without an autopsy.
Sunday night search dogs, divers, mounted police and numerous
volunteers took part in the search for the seven-year-old,
who disappeared during a class trip to Lake Nitzanim in the
South.
Ashkelon Police Commander Itan Gadasi said that after a boat
ride in the lake the trip guides noticed that one of the
children did not board the buses. They quickly summoned help.
At first only his shoes were found.
After the body was found it was sent to the Abu Kabir
Forensics Institute for an external examination, where
pathologists discerned no signs of violence and determined
that the cause of death was drowning. Yet for unknown reasons
Southern District Prosecutor Atty. Yiskah Leibowitz (who also
insisted on the autopsy of the baby in Ashdod last month)
demanded a full autopsy rather than releasing the body for
burial.
Based on a request by ZAKA, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni rushed to
contact State Prosecutor Eran Shendar, who agreed with Rabbi
Gafni that an autopsy was unnecessary, especially since
pathologists had already determined the cause of death.
The Ashkelon Court then issued instructions to take fluid and
blood samples and release the body for burial immediately.
The funeral was held Monday afternoon in Raanana.
