Jerusalem Post reports, "Iranians, Palestinians join thousands in consoling Ramon family"

The IDF has received more than 10,000 condolence messages via e-mail from all over the world for the family of astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon, which are in turn to be passed on to his family.


Poems, prayers and tributes have come even from such countries as Iran and parts of the Palestinian Authority-ruled areas, as well as Ireland, Scandinavian countries, German, France, Argentina and India.


A 27-year-old female student from Teheran wrote "I wish to let you know that the Iranian people also feel the depth of your pain in this devastating incident. Anywhere human beings suffer, we all suffer as a whole whether we realize it or not, and this tragedy is no exception."


A resident from the West Bank city of Nablus said "we all in Nablus send our hearty condolences to the Ramon familty and the Israeli people on the loss of Col. Ilan Ramon in the Columbia space shuttle tragedy. Ilan is a courageous person who lost his lifefor the sake of mankind."


Another West Bank resident from the city of Bethlehem wrote "I'm very sorry that your son died in this tragic event. It is a big loss for the world to lose an astronaut like Mr. Ramon and his friends. I hope you accept my condolences."


An email from the Las Palmas Canary Islands said "we feel a great sorrow for the loss of Ilan Ramon. He was a model of perfection, humanity, knowledge and valour." A writer from Panama described Ramon as their hero and a message from NASA said "we are sending you our heartfelt condolences. Ilan was our pride and our hope. Ilan lived for us and Ilan died for us. His memory will live in Jewish history!"


The army plans to present the thousands of e-mails to the Ramon family when they arrive in Israel.


Meanwhile those who wish to convey their thoughts can continue to send messages to ilanfamily@mail.idf.il