The parents of the three abducted teens met for the first time on Tuesday, as the Shaer and Yifrach families arrived at the Frenkel family home in Nof Ayalon, near Modiin. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the families again on Tuesday, and assured them that "the government and the military are sparing no effort" to retrieve their sons. Netanyahu convened the diplomatic-security cabinet for a special session on Monday, for the second time since Friday, to discuss the scope of the operation. "Our hearts are broken and torn apart. But we believe you'll come home safe and sound. Our hearts are strong. Our hearts believe that you'll come back, safe and sound," Iris Yifrach, mother of abducted teen Eyal Yifrach, said in a statement to the press on Monday, four days after her son was kidnapped. Meanwhile, visitors -- including public officials -- continue to stream to the homes of the abductees, and pray for the safe return of Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel, and Gil-ad Shaer. "We can't wait to hold you in our arms," Iris Yifrach said, choking back tears. Her mother and husband, Uri, stood next to her on the doorstep of the family's home in Elad. "We're hugging you hard. Give a big hug to Gil-ad and Naftali, watch out for them," she said. Uri Yifrach added: "We want to thank the people of Israel for their wonderful embrace, the wonderful unity of this people that gives strength to the kids. This strength will bring them home. Thanks to you they will stay strong. Keep praying." Later Monday, Gil-ad Shaer's father, Ophir, said "They tell us that we are projecting strength but I have to say that it comes from you
we feel connected to every community, to the whole public." Shaer called for people to keep praying, and addressing his captive son said "I am waiting for the moment to wrap you in the [priestly blessing], with the prayer shawl, to protect you." Leaving the home of Naftali Frenkel in Nof Ayalon, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said, "It was important to me to come here today to make it clear that these kids are all of ours." In addition to the justice minister, IDF Chief Rabbi Maj. Gen. Rafi Peretz, French parliamentarians, and Opposition Leader MK Isaac Herzog all visited the Frenkel family. Herzog noted that "fighting terror isn't a political debate but a matter for the Israeli public as a whole." Education Minister Rabbi Shay Piron said that "the meeting shows us more about faith and nobility of spirit." Esther Pollard, wife of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, also visited the boys' families and said that Pollard has asked her to "send him to the families." "He said I should see who the families are, how they are, how they're holding up," Esther Pollard said. The Education Ministry has placed an emergency team at the Makor Chaim Yeshiva, where two of the boys are students. On Saturday night, the yeshiva prepared for the students' return from their weekends home, and arranged for buses. Before they arrived, the teaching and administrative staff met to discuss how they would conduct themselves and to prepare themselves to provide emotional support.
Credit: Moshe Ben-Simhon
