Drama in the Supreme Court: Minutes before the hearing began, a representative of the State Attorney's Office announced that the police were repeating their request to perform an autopsy on the body of the late 13-year-old boy Haim Shmuel Meir Weitzhandler from Beit Shemesh, who was found lifeless in his bed.
His body was released for burial on Mount Hamunehot in Jerusalem.
His funeral will take place today (Wednesday) at 4:00 PM at the Shamgar Funeral Home and from there to the South Hasidim plot on Har Hamenuchot, where he will be buried.
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The deceased, z"l, is the son of Rabbi David Weitzhandler, of the Breslov Hasidim in the Heftziba neighborhood in Beit Shemesh.
A statement issued by the ZAKA-Tel Aviv organization stated: "Yesterday morning, rescue forces were called to treat a 13-year-old boy who was found unconscious in his home in the city of Beit Shemesh. After extensive efforts, they were forced to determine his death, and his body was transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine to examine the circumstances of his death.
After court proceedings, the representative of the High Court of Justice has now decided to withdraw the request for an autopsy. The body will be transferred to the cemetery for further burial and funeral.
Many thanks to the rabbi of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Rabbi Asher Landau, and the rabbi of the Institute, Rabbi Yaakov Steinmetz, who handled the event with all that was required, and are assisting the family and community members with everything related to expediting and organizing the funeral.
"In the next few minutes, the body will be transported in a Tel Aviv ZAKA ambulance to the cemetery in Jerusalem.".
In a statement issued by the ZAKA organization, it was stated: "A few minutes before the start of the hearing and despite the police's claims yesterday about suspicions requiring an autopsy and against the decision of Magistrate Court Judge Elad Lang, the Attorney General's Office representative informed the representative of the ZAKA legal department, Attorney Dror Shosheim, that the police are repeating their request to perform an autopsy on the body of the deceased 13-year-old from Beit Shemesh. In the coming minutes, his body will be released for burial on Mount Hamunuch in Jerusalem.".
The police responded:
""Following incorrect publications on social media regarding the investigation into the circumstances of the death of a 13-year-old boy who was found lifeless in his home last night - here are the facts:
Following findings that emerged at the beginning of the investigation, the boy's body was sent yesterday morning for tests - including a visual examination and various tests by a forensic doctor - at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, after consulting with the prosecutor's office. The goal was to determine the boy's cause of death, as it could not be determined with certainty in the field and findings that required an examination.
Following these tests, the Institute of Forensic Medicine informed the police yesterday that in light of the findings discovered so far, their position was to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death with certainty. Accordingly, in light of the Institute of Forensic Medicine's position, the Attorney General's Office and the police requested that the autopsy be performed from the Magistrate's Court, which approved this position last night, and an appeal and stay of execution was filed by the family.
Today, near the hearing of the appeal in the High Court led by the prosecution, a report was received by the prosecution to the police that their position had changed, in light of the findings of medical examinations that were performed and indicated that the cause of death was as a result of infection. Accordingly, the prosecution decided to withdraw the request for an autopsy prior to the hearing of the appeal.
In accordance with this decision, the body will now be released for burial. We note that the Israel Police is continuing the investigation of the case with the aim of reaching the truth.".
Yesterday, throughout the day and night, hundreds demonstrated in violent protests in several locations across the country, and there were even demonstrators who tried to break into the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir in an attempt to snatch the boy's body.
Today, in advance of the hearing, protests continue: hundreds of fanatics have been demonstrating since the morning hours in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Safed, and more, blocking traffic routes.
Rabbi Shraga Brand, a member of the 'Urdu Community', explained this morning on Kol Berama radio: "We are protesting against the court. We must not agree to an autopsy. The boy did not feel well and the police know it. The High Court's conduct is a violation of the rights of the deceased.".
He added: "Yesterday, the police ran over protesters with cavalry. They didn't do it in Kaplan, but when they see Haredim, they act like that. If the High Court allows the autopsy, we will set the entire country on fire.".
