Two Israeli Citizens Die in Separate Tragedies in Vietnam and Thailand
Jerusalem resident David Ben Lulu, 23, died in a motorcycle crash in Vietnam, while another Israeli tourist drowned in Thailand. ZAKA and foreign ministries are coordinating the repatriation of Ben Lulu's body.
Two separate tragedies involving Israeli citizens occurred in Southeast Asia. David Ben Lulu, a 23-year-old resident of Jerusalem, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Vietnam last Friday while riding hundreds of kilometers away from the capital, Hanoi. In another incident, an Israeli citizen in his 70s drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Pattaya, Thailand.
Following the report of the fatal accident in Vietnam, the ZAKA International Unit and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs began working with relevant authorities in France and Vietnam. The case is particularly complex as Ben Lulu also held French citizenship.
Diplomatic Efforts in Hanoi
As part of the efforts, an appeal was made to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, the French consulate in Hanoi, which was scheduled to be closed on Sunday, opened exceptionally to process the case and complete the required paperwork.
At the same time, the ZAKA International Unit is coordinating with the family and local Vietnamese authorities to complete the procedures for transferring the body to Hanoi and flying it to Israel for burial.
Serge Ben Haim, commander of ZAKA France, stated:
"Since we learned of the incident, we have been working non-stop with French, Vietnamese, and Israeli authorities. This morning, I personally arrived at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the necessary instructions were issued to the team in Hanoi. The deceased is located hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi, and we are working to arrange his transfer and return to Israel as quickly as possible, while fully maintaining the honor of the deceased."
Multi-National Coordination
Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA's Operations Deputy Director, added:
"This is a complex case that requires activity and coordination with officials in several countries. The ZAKA International Unit is working with ZAKA France and the family to overcome the difficulties and expedite the procedures as much as possible. We hope to quickly complete all necessary actions and bring David to eternal rest in Israel."
