When Yehuda Persi wants to show off he says: “It’s because of me that Operation Pillar of Defense broke out.” He’s right. On November 10, 2012, an anti-tank missile was launched on a Givati Brigade jeep in which commando fighters were patrolling. “Hamas will pay a heavy price,” said a senior Government official for the umpteenth time, but no one really believed him. However, the escalation following the event with Persi led to the outbreak of the military operation.
Profiles
Captain Ran Ben Attia
Captain Ran Ben Attia served as an Operations Officer in the Nahal Brigade during Operation Protective Edge (2014). While leading his men into one of the tunnels, a sniper shot him nearly blowing off his hand. The bullet penetrated his thigh and hip and lodged itself in the delicate nervous system around his spine in his pelvis. Thanks to the quick evacuation by the Air Force rescue unit, his life was saved.
Shalom Segall
Shalom Segall, recipient of an Academic Scholarship through Beit Halochem, tells the story of his grave injury and subsequent recovery in his “Thank You” speech. He delivered this talk during the Scholarship Distribution Ceremony (Dec. 31, 2015) at Beit Halochem Tel Aviv.
Izzy Ezagui
Izzy Ezagui is a one-armed commander who was injured in combat. In May 2011, Shimon Peres, President of Israel, awarded him the highest accolade a soldier outside the battlefield can receive.
Noam Gershony
Noam Gershony, an Apache Helicopter Pilot, was almost 24 when in the midst of the Second Lebanon War, July 2006, he was severely wounded in a collision between two helicopters while on his way to a mission across the border.
Captain Shimon Navon
Captain Shimon Navon, who served his country twice, was badly burned during the First Intifada, in a terrorist attack on his vehicle. Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at his jeep, setting it on fire.
Ohad Roisblatt
Ohad Roisblatt, now 24 years old, enlisted in the Golani Brigade, 51st Battalion, in 2010 when he was 18 years old. He had already graduated from Kiryat Haim High School, where he had majored in computer science and physics.
Major (Res.) Ofir Anidjar
Ofir Anidjar grew up in Ma’alot with his parents, two brothers and a sister. Throughout his childhood, his family was often under threats of Katyusha rockets being fired across the border from Lebanon. Together with his siblings, Ofir embraced a love of Zionism from an early age and watching his father head off to miluim (army reserves) in his army uniform every year, left him with a feeling of deep admiration and respect for service to the State of Israel.
Yarin Ashkenazi
“As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t finished serving my country.” The young soldier from Holon could have joined “Shayetet 13” (the Naval Commandos), but he chose to follow his brother’s footsteps and serve in the “Giv’ati Brigade.” He had completed an NCO course, and took part in ‘Operation Protective
Ron Halevi
There are healthy people who always will complain about how difficult things are. They go on about their pains and weaknesses. But there are also those who were born fighters, those who will remain as such their entire lives – no matter what happens to them. One of these born fighters is 21-year-old Ron Halevi from Kibbutz Gesher in northern Israel.