Barnes, Yonathan (Yoni)
Son of Claude and Pierre. Born on 5 March 1968 in Holon, Yonatan is the son of Major General Meir Zorea, an air force pilot who fell in the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War. Yonatan studied at the Sprinzak School in Holon, and at the age of 14 his family moved to Pardes Hanna, where he continued his studies at the agricultural school in Pardes Hannah and after a year went to study at the Mevo’ot Yam school in Michmoret, At the end of the school year, Yonatan went sailing as part of the program, and Jonathan was an excellent athlete. Month of November 1986 Jonathan signing up for compulsory military service. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and volunteered to serve in the Paratroopers Brigade. During the basic training, Yonatan was wounded in the shoulder and was supposed to undergo surgery. His medical profile was lowered to 64 and, on the doctor’s orders, he had to stop all physical activity. Jonathan insisted on remaining on the combat path until the basic training. He applied to the Medical Committee for exceptions to obtain a permit to return to a combat path, did not give up on the journey to the beret, and later embarked on a parachuting course. Yonatan was temporarily assigned to the battalion’s intelligence department and moved with his unit to the north of the country. A very short time after joining the unit, the “Night of the Gliders” event took place. Jonathan showed resourcefulness, initiative, responsibility and orientation in operating the spotlight, even though he was in a sector he did not know. Later, Yonatan was attached to the battalion’s operations department. He stood out with great vitality and quick reaction, and showed great alertness and determination. On January 20, 1988, his unit encountered a squad of terrorists. Yonatan, who was not supposed to go out to the field, volunteered to be the battalion commander’s contact, while he worked in the organization of the radio transmitter on his back, was seriously injured in the head and was taken by helicopter to Rambam Hospital. After four days of struggle, Jonathan died of his wounds on January 24, 1988. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Pardes Hannah, and was engraved on his gravestone “fell in battle for the defense of the northern communities.” He left behind his parents, In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the defense minister wrote: “Jonathan volunteered to serve in the Paratroops despite his medical limitations. Was a soldier of great energy, accepted by his friends and cared for his surroundings. “In a letter of consolation from the unit commander, it was written, among other things:” Yonatan had a special person for all his friends. Knowledge to initiate and take on responsibility. Jonathan did everything with love, faith and great enthusiasm. You lost a precious son whom you loved and raised, and we lost a loved one. “The Jewish Students Organization in Rome planted a tree in his memory in one of the forests of the Jewish National Fund. The CD was sold in France and a gymnasium was established in the Neve Michael Children’s Village in Pardes Hannah.
