Things He’ll Never Forget

“T

here are certain things you just don’t forget things that can never be considered just part of the job” says Major Eyal Sabag outgoing operations officer for the Shomron region as he sums up two years on the front lines of one of the country’s most complex and volatile areas.

He was referring to the murder of Rabbi Eitam and Naama Henkin who were ambushed and shot in front of their children last Chol Hamoed Succos as the family was driving home from a Simchas Beis Hashoeivah celebration. But feeling remorse or even guilt over the past isn’t the way of these field heroes whose job it is to protect a population living in the precarious shadow of the enemy. He and his colleagues are always looking toward a better more hopeful and secure future.

Still the 19th of Tishrei last year will always be in his mind the most difficult part of his tenure. He was in the middle of a routine briefing when a message arrived that a serious incident had occurred on the road that connects Itamar to Elon Moreh. An entire family was in the vehicle and the parents were no longer alive. The meeting was aborted and Major Sabag climbed into his jeep and sped to the scene. As details became clearer and he realized the full horror of the attack he admits that part of his mind went into recrimination mode.

“My command was responsible for security on the road and I must admit at that moment I felt the burden of failure: How did it happen? How come we didn’t know? How come we didn’t stop it in time? Obviously everything is from Above and ultimately it’s not about us. But you know there are things that you get over and there are things that you will always carry with you that you will never forget. This horrific murder will definitely be one of them ” he says.