For the Asheri family the worst has happened. Their son, Eliyahu, is dead. It is a sad day for the people of Israel – a member of our communal family is dead because of hatred. The Jerusalem Post opens their article by writing,

The IDF confirmed early Thursday a report the Popular Resistance Committees issued from Gaza that it had executed Eliyahu Asheri, 18, of Itamar, who was kidnapped earlier this week in the West Bank. [Read the rest of the article...]

The BBC reported the story before IDF confirmation. I realize that the BBC is well known for being pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel in its bias. However, I don’t understand their wording on the report of Asheri’s death. The headline reads, Militants ‘kill’ Israeli settler - why is it that quotes are around the word ‘kill’? Was he not a human? Was he not a life worth living? Did he not really live, thus not really die, necessitating the quotes? I find this usage disturbing. Certainly the BBC should have acknowledged that the IDF had not yet confirmed the tragedy, but this does not necessitate the quote marks. Feel free to let me know if you have a better explanation.

May the Holy One bring comfort to Eliyahu’s parents, family and friends.

UPDATE:  More details in Haaretz‘s article.