President Reuven Rivlin paid a condolence visit on Thursday to the family of Nimer Abu Amar, the 15-year-old Bedouin teen who was killed by shots fired on the Israeli-Egyptian border.
“We are all citizens of the same country, we have come to share in your profound grief,” Rivlin said.
“We are all equal in this country and there is no difference between a child from Lakiya or from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa. The Ministry of Defense treats a child from Lakiya in exactly the same way as it would any other child, and we will check and follow closely after this tragic incident.”
Bassam Abu Amar, the bereaved father, told Rivlin that he was confident the ministry would “pursue justice and investigate the issue.” He added, however, “We are in great pain; we are mourning our firstborn.”
Nimer’s uncle, Fares Abu Amar said, “We have been working with the security establishment for generations, and we will continue to serve the country and work along the borders.” He expressed confidence that the Defense Ministry would investigate and “draw the necessary conclusions.
“Our child is yours as well as ours – there is no question about that.”
The President embraced the family upon leaving and promised that the relevant officials at the President’s Office will follow the investigation into the incident.