Yehuda Katz's sister in harsh criticism: If they had taken responsibility for Sultan Ya'akub, perhaps we wouldn't have reached October 7
Perachia Heiman, sister of fallen soldier Yehuda Katz—the last missing soldier from the Battle of Sultan Ya'akub (1982) who was returned to Israel last week after 44 years—gave a harsh interview to Kan News criticizing the IDF and the media. She described the difficult moments after identification, the mixed feelings of disappointment and pride, and the media's premature eulogizing of her brother. Heiman linked the failure to take responsibility in that battle to the failures that led to October 7.
Perachia Heiman, sister of fallen soldier Yehuda Katz—the last missing soldier from the Battle of Sultan Ya'akub (1982) who was returned to Israel last week after 44 years—was interviewed today (Monday) on Kan News's program "In the Middle of the Day" and harshly criticized the IDF and the media. She described the moment the family was informed of the identification of his body: "The first reaction was shock, and immediately messages started pouring in saying 'congratulations' and 'what joy.' We lived in hope for 44 years that Yehuda was alive, and they stabbed a knife in our hearts when they said he was dead." Heiman said that solid information only came in the last ten days, and that the feeling was immense disappointment alongside pride that they never gave up on him. She criticized the media for already eulogizing her brother, adding the terms "may he rest in peace" and "fallen soldier" in every broadcast, even while the family was still sitting with officers learning the findings. Heiman claimed that in the Battle of Sultan Ya'akub, "the IDF left six soldiers in the field, turned its back, and fled," and that the failure to take responsibility then was a turning point that began a culture of "it's not my problem"—which she said led to the failures of October 7. Yehuda Katz was laid to rest last week on the Mount of Olives; his brother Avi Katz eulogized him: "When the army announced you were missing, Father's first sentence was: 'Auschwitz is not over.'"