Lt. Gen. Gantz toured the site of Friday's attack on the Egyptian border and met with the soldiers who thwarted the attempted terror attack, praising their determination
Date: 23/09/2012, 1:08 PM
Author: IDF Website
Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz toured Har Harif this morning (Sunday, September 23), the site where a firefight occurred between terrorists and IDF soldiers on Friday, in which Cpl. Netanel Yahalomi (20) was killed and another soldier was injured.
The Chief of Staff met with soldiers of the Artillery Corps and the Karakal Battalion, whose handling of the incident apparently prevented a large terror attack on the Israeli home front. Meeting with Lt. Gen. Gantz, the soldiers described their thwarting of the attack. The Sergeant of the Karakal force described how he led the soldiers, identified the enemy, and engaged the enemy. Among the soldiers of this force was a markswoman who rushed forward and struck one of the terrorists.
During the meeting, the Chief of Staff expressed appreciation for all those IDF soldiers who helped to thwart the attack. "We are fighters who protect the borders; there are encounters, and everyone who chose to be a combat soldier knows things like this can happen. I think that Netanel [Yahalomi], of blessed memory, realized this completely, to the fullest extent. Netanel advanced, made contact, fought, and was killed; each of you could have been him," said Lt. Gen. Gantz. "I am sure that if Netanel were here with us, he would say that we must continue the mission."
The Chief of Staff praised the work of the Karakal Battalion in the incident and in the past year. He emphasized that "the Sinai border will continue challenging us. We made a great effort in the past two years to close the border, and it is closed – but even when it is closed, the threat does not stop."