Army chief: IDF has existential need for reserve forces

Reservists from battalion involved in Lebanon border skirmish in August gather to remember Col. Harari, who was killed in incident

Hanan Greenberg|Published: 09.29.10 , 14:26

"You are the cyclamen between the rocks; the reason to be proud of Israel," the daughter of Colonel Dov Harari, who was killed in the border skirmish with the Lebanese army two months ago, told her father's subordinates on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Mor Harari was in tears during a ceremony at Defense Minister Ehud Barak's sukkah, at the Kirya Base in Tel Aviv.

Barak and Cpt. Lakia on Wednesday (Photo: Dudu Azulay)

"When my dad would go on reserve duty, he looked as though he was going on a fun trip. You were like his children," said Harari's daughter, who serves in the Intelligence Unit of the South District Command.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi also addressed the soldiers and commended the progress that has been made in the reserve forces lineup during recent years. "We have an existential need for this lineup, and it still faces many challenges ahead," he said.

The defense minister also noted the importance of the reserve forces and lauded reservist Captain Ezra Lakia, who was injured during the same incident and donned his uniform to attend the ceremony – for the first time since the event.

Lakia, who served as a company commander in the reserve battalion, described his recovery process to Ynet, "I was injured in my left lung and left arm," he said with his wife beside him. "Now I am in rehabilitation at Tel HaShomer (Sheba Medical Center) twice a week, doing training so that my heart returns to function regularly."

'We must look forward'

The incident, near Kibbutz Misgav Am, is still clearly painted in his memory: "At first I was lightly injured, but the second shooting hit Berry (Harari), so I went over to him. I saw that he sustained a head injury, and his condition was critical," he recalled.

"Shrapnel from his helmet penetrated my body. Afterwards, there was another shooting from which I was injured. It's hard for me to say that I was surprised by the attack," Lakia admitted, "The conduct of the Lebanese army was suspicious and there were signs that they were up to something. But now we must look forward – that's the most important thing," he concluded.

Lakia's many friends shook his hand and praised him for his courageous conduct. He told them that despite experiencing pain and having difficulty in performing daily activities, he was not losing hope: "The doctors estimate that the rehabilitation process will take at least six months, and can also last a year and a half, but I am staying optimistic."