Border police arrest two for alleged vandalization of IDF soldier’s memorial site
Fallen soldier Sgt. Yehuda Peretz was killed when the vehicle he was traveling in crashed into a barrier on Route 222, only a month before his wedding date.
On Monday, the Border Police apprehended two individuals in connection with the alleged desecration of a memorial site in Kibbutz Retamim, which honors Sgt. Yehuda Peretz, an 18-year-old IDF soldier. Peretz, a resident of Retamim and a member of the Golani Brigade, lost his life in a vehicular accident on Route 222 in August 2025. He was just a month away from his wedding, according to the memorial site for fallen soldiers.
The damage to the memorial site, which included burned benches, ruined signs, and flags, was discovered last month. Residents reported the incident to the police, describing it as a "serious violation of sovereignty and the rule of law," according to the NGO Im Tirtzu.
Following a tip-off, undercover Border Police officers conducted arrests in Bir Hadaj, a Bedouin town. The suspects were subsequently taken to the Segev Shalom police station for questioning. The Border Police released footage capturing the moment of arrest.
Peretz, who lived in Retamim since the age of three, was deeply involved in the Bnei Akiva youth movement. After his untimely death, the local Bnei Akiva chapter collected funds to commemorate him by dedicating a Torah scroll in his memory.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
