Bondi Faibon - First Thai soldier
Photo: Tzvika Tishler
Thai makes IDF history
Bondi Faibon, son of foreign workers, granted citizenship only four months ago; I am Israeli in every sense of the word, he says
Making history: Four months after being granted Israeli citizenship, 19-year-old Bondi Faibon is expected to enter the IDF Induction Center at Tel Hashomer, near Tel Aviv, Wednesday morning.
This moment, which is dramatic for any Israeli youngster, is an especially dramatic moment for him, being the first child of foreign workers to join the Israeli army, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.
Bondi's mother was born in Thailand and came to work in Israel more than 20 years ago. Bondi and his younger sister were born in Israel.
When he was seven years old, his father returned to Thailand, and Bondi went to live with a foster family in the community of Kfar Yonah in the Sharon area, where he currently resides.
His enlistment follows a government decision enabling foreign workers' children who were born in Israel and are between the ages of 10 and 18 to be granted Israeli citizenship. As a result, the new citizen's parents and siblings will be granted the status of permanent residents.
The Interior Ministry expects 2,000 children of foreign workers to meet the criteria, with an additional 12,000 family members being granted a permanent resident status. Requests submitted by 15 youths have already been approved, and in December Bondi received his Israeli identity card from Deputy Interior Minister Ruhama Avraham.
The new soldier's foster family was very excited over the enlistment.
Shimon Kempel, Bondi's foster father, told Yedioth Ahronoth: "We have four children who grew up and left home, and we were left alone in our big house. We turned to a social worker and asked to raise another child."
"Bondi was one of the offers we got. We were very hesitant on whether to raise a Thai boy, but the moment we met him we realized it was the right move," he said.
"He was in the sixth grade when he arrived at our home, and we educated him just like we educated our children: School, youth movement, and then the army. Even before he received his Israeli citizenship we began negotiating with army authorities in order to enlist him, even as a volunteer. They explained to us that it was not possible as long as he did not receive his identity card," Shimon added.
'Most natural thing in the world'
The moment Bondi turned 16, Shimon began working to resolve his status. After Bondi received his citizenship at the end of last year, Shimon approached the military recruiting office once again, this time with a letter written by his foster son, asking to be inducted.
The recruiting administration accepted the request and sent Bondi an invitation to undergo pre-enlistment tests, just like any other Israeli youth. A medical problem prevented him from volunteering to a combat unit he wished to join, and now he hopes to find another good unit.
"The entire family is excited over the induction," Shimon said. "We held an enlistment party for Bondi with all the children and grandchildren. I hope things go well for him."
New Private Bondi preferred to summarize his new status in one short sentence.
"I am an Israeli in every sense of the word and I view my enlistment as the most natural thing in the world," he said one day before putting on his IDF uniform.
