In conflict, not much change after corona

It’s a script we’re all too familiar with: another fallen IDF soldier, this one killed by a Palestinian in the midst of an operation in the West Bank. The radio interviews the distraught family, who describe the indescribable pain and sense of loss. Family and friends recall all of the soldier’s amazing qualities.

This episode: He was 21 years old and his name was Amit Ben Yigal, hit in the head with a rock propelled with apparent force from a building near Jenin in the middle of the night. Even though he was wearing a helmet, his wounds proved fatal.

An only child, Ben Yigal was determined and proud to serve in the Golani Brigade. His father told him how proud he was, amidst his concern, after signing the special permission necessary for an only child to enlist. Letters the soldier had written were posted during the day attesting to his resolve and how he viewed his service to the country.

she had woken up at 5:15 a.m. saying “Baruch Dayan Haemet,” the traditional Jewish phrase marking death, but when she heard the knocks on the door she screamed to go away.

“No! Go away from here!! That’s it. My life has changed. My eldest son, your sisters don’t understand what is going on,” she said. “Oy, Amit. You called me last night that you were going to do an operation and I told you to take care of yourself. Why, why? This stone changed everything. My son is below the ground. This past Remembrance Day I never thought the feeling would follow me throughout the year. Amit, my son, my love, my life.”

His girlfriend Osher Hanum, who was barely able to finish her eulogy through her tears, said “You said you would take care of yourself last night and where are you now? You are buried... where are you…?”

In attendance at the funeral was Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, who represented the government; Labor leader Amir Peretz, who is a friend of the family and hundreds of troops. All in attendance wore masks.

Earlier in the day his father, in