Slain Border Policewoman's name lives on
Hadar Cohen, 19, was killed by a terrorist after shooting another who attacked her friend. Her bravery inspired two couples to name their daughters after her, and other Border Policemen to come out in force to commemorate her.
A little over a week ago, Border Policewoman Hadar Cohen bravely shot a terrorist after he stabbed her comrade, and was then shot and killed by another attacker at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Her heroism has inspired many Israelis, who chose to honor her memory in unique ways.
Two couples from different parts of the country decided to name their respective newborn daughters after her, while her fellow Border Police officers decided to honor her courage with a kind of online memorial.
Hadar Guetta from Neve Daniel came into the world on Tuesday night, just hours before the attack. "She was born a month early in an emergency surgery, we were really not prepared for it," said mother Shaked, 26, of her first born baby.
"At first, we thought of giving her a name that relates to Purim, but then, after the attack, my husband Ron called me and told me that he had heard the story of Hadar Cohen and suggested naming our daughter after her. He said he was hurting that a girl was murdered, and he thinks it's the right thing to do. So we decided to commemorate Hadar's courage and heroism."
Guetta is no stranger to dealing with terrorism. "During my national service, I volunteered at an organization that helps victims of terror attacks. I created a close bond with the bereaved families and they stayed in my heart. After Hadar was born, I told them that I decided to name her that, and they were very emotional."
Aryeh, 28, and Ruhama, 26, Arbus from Elon Moreh also decided to name their daughter after Hadar. In a post that touched many the new father announced that he decided to call his daughter Tair-Hadar and wrote: "Few women got to take part in the saving of Israel like you did with strength and splendor."
Aryeh told Yedioth Ahronoth that this was actually a commemoration of two people. "After the birth, I remembered the case of Hadar Buchris, who was stabbed to death at the Gush Etzion Junction in this wave of terrorism, and thought about the heroism shown by the combat soldier Hadar Cohen. All of this brought the name Hadar to the forefront of my mind. I went to my wife and suggested that we name our daughter that, and she immediately agreed."
The Arbus family paid a visit to the mourning Cohen family and told them about the gesture. "It made them very happy," said Aryeh. "It may be considered a gesture on my part, but the truth is that I took some of Hadar's heroism for my daughter. She was a heroine and her act touched the people of Israel."
Uri Cohen, Hadar's cousin, said that his family invited the Arbus family to their shiva. "They were very emotional by the story and thanked him very much," he said. "We appreciate anything that will commemorate and memorialize Hadar."
We're All Border Police
To mark one week to the deadly attack, former and current Border Police officers decided honor Hadar Cohen's memory by changing their Facebook profile picture to one in which they are wearing their Border Police uniform.
The photos were accompanied by the Hebrew hashtag #WeAreAllBorderPolice and different messages "in memory of fighter Hadar Cohen."
One of the soldiers who posted a status update in memory of Cohen is Raz Bibi, who recently returned to service in the Border Police after he was severely wounded in another attack at the Damascus Gate, a few meters away from where Cohen was murdered. He was stabbed by a terrorist last June, but managed to recover, shoot and neutralize his attacker.
"As a fighter in the third company in the Old City, and as one who was stabbed at the Damascus Gate and is still recovering in an effort to return to full activity and protect innocent people at the Jerusalem friction points, the moment I heard about the attack it took me back to that day, to the same feelings and that damned and dangerous place, to that flashpoint where at every moment a terrorist can pop up and simply start murdering," Bibi wrote on his Facebook page.
"When I saw the pictures and that Hadar was in critical condition, I immediately started thinking – I hope reports don't start appearing that she was killed, like what happened to me, but unfortunately after hours of trying to fight for her life in the operating room, doctors had to declare her dead. I feel the pain and there are no words. To me, Hadar, you are a heroine, Israel's heroine, who prevented a more serious attack. Because of you, a greater disaster was avoided and your friend was saved. To me, this is heroism! Rest in peace," Bibi went on to say.
Snir Eindaporker, 23, from Ashdod, served in the Border Police in the Jerusalem area, among others at the Qalandiya, Beit Hanina and Hizma checkpoints. He also changed his profile photo to one of him wearing his Border Police uniform. "I may not have known Hadar Cohen," he wrote, "but the Border Police is one big family. We are all proud of her, give her thanks and send our condolences to the family. The Border Police always was and always will be Israel's armor. "
Yaakov Komemi, who serves in the Border Police, also uploaded a photo of himself in uniform. Yaakov is the brother of Lance Cpl. Menashe Komemi, who received the police's Distinguished Service Medal along with Lance Cpl. Mamoya Tahio, after they stopped a mass casualty attack in the French Hill in 2004 with their bodies.
A suicide bomber tried to bypass the checkpoint in order to get to a bus stop and explode in a crowded place. The two fighters insisted on searching her, and during the search the suicide bomber activated the bomb and killed both of them.
Yaakov has followed in his brother's footsteps and also enlisted in the Border Police.
"It's the least we can do," Yaakov said of the commemoration for Hadar Cohen.
Yael Friedson, Elisha Ben Kimon, Adva Cohen, Roi Yanovsky and Mor Shemesh contributed to this story.
