Jerusalem Man Killed in Vietnam; French Consulate Opens for Case

A 23-year-old Jerusalem resident, David Ben Lulu, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Vietnam last Friday. The international unit of ZAKA, an Israeli volunteer rescue and recovery organization, received the report and immediately began coordinating with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as French and Vietnamese authorities.

The complexity of the case stemmed from Ben Lulu holding both Israeli and French citizenship. Efforts were made to contact French Foreign Ministry officials, leading to the special opening of the French Consulate in Hanoi, which was scheduled to be closed. This exceptional measure was taken to expedite the processing of necessary documents for Ben Lulu's repatriation.

Simultaneously, ZAKA's international unit is working with Ben Lulu's family and local contacts to ensure the deceased is treated with dignity and to complete the procedures for his transfer to Hanoi and subsequent flight to Israel for burial.

Serge Ben Haim, commander of ZAKA France, stated that they have been working non-stop with French, Vietnamese, and Israeli authorities since learning of the incident. He personally visited the French Foreign Ministry, where directives were issued to the Hanoi team. He confirmed the consulate's special opening to advance document processing and noted that Ben Lulu's body is hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi, with efforts underway to arrange his swift return to Israel with full respect.

Haim Weingarten, ZAKA's deputy operations director, described the situation as complex, requiring coordination across multiple countries. He affirmed ZAKA's international unit is collaborating with ZAKA France and the family to overcome obstacles and expedite the process, expressing hope for a swift completion of all procedures to bring David for burial in Israel.