Memorial service at Beirut Airport for Lance Corporal Javier Soria./ Photo: UNIFIL
The Diplomat. 29/01/2016
Yesterday, it was the first anniversary of the death of the Spanish Lance Corporal Francisco Javier Soria, victim of an Israeli bombing against positions of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
His widow was compensated by the Spanish Government and by the UN a few months after his death. Several weeks ago, she received economic compensation from Israel, 200,000 euros, according to information provided to The Diplomat in Spain by Spanish diplomatic sources.
The Hebrew State has never given money as the one responsible for the death of a foreign soldier, so this is a decision without precedent, the aforementioned sources explained. The Israeli Ministry of Defence admitted in writing to the department of Pedro Morenés that the missiles had fallen by mistake in the Lebanese bordering area controlled by UN blue berets.
The Spanish minister pointed out in parliament, halfway through April last year, that “there was no intention” by Tsahal against the UNIFIL forces, but a whole series of mistakes that led to that tragic ending. Therefore, Tel Aviv accepted compensating the family of the Spanish corporal economically.
