Border Police at center of commendations ceremony after rough year of fighting terror
Border Police fighters, who faced countless attacks in the recent wave of terror, account for nearly half of the Israel Police commendation recipients this year. " It's a feeling of pride, mixed with a lot of sorrow," said father of Hadar Cohen, who will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service for her actions in stopping a terrorist attack at Jerusalem's Damascus Gate.
"I accepted it with a lot of love, but it brings no comfort," the bereaved father said. "It's a feeling of pride, mixed with a lot of sorrow. She should have accepted it with us—but sadly, she won't. If Hadar hadn't prevented this attack, it could have ended with many people being killed."
Cpl. Cohen's family is set to receive her medal at a police commendation ceremony on Thursday at the National Police Academy in Beit Shemesh. Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, and President Reuven Rivlin will all be present. Thirteen policewomen and policemen are set to receive a Medal of Distinguished Service, with 32 to be awarded the Commissioner's Citation.
The activities of the Yamam (the Israel Border Police's special counter-terrorism unit) will be recognized with a unit citation, and five civilians will receive a special civilian citation.
The number of commendation recipients this year is particularly high in the Border Police—attesting to its soldiers' efforts at the forefront of combating the past year's twave of terror. Twenty of those being commended—nearly half of all recipients—will be from among its ranks.
Among the six civilians receiving special citations, albeit posthumously, is Rabbi Nahmia Lavi, who was killed by a terrorist in October 2015 when, after realizing that a stabbing attack was taking place, ran out of his home to help the victims before himself being stabbed to death.
Two other recipients of civilian citations are Hagai Klein and Eliran Shua, who will be recognized for their brave actions in fighting the terrorists during the deadly shooting attack at Tel Aviv's Sarona Market in June.
