Besser (Bar), Israel

Israel (Iric), son of Hadassah and Haim-Yehoshua, was born on 14.2.1941 in Afula. When he was four years old, his parents helped them live in Moshav Beit Yosef and moved to Kibbutz Neve Eitan. Where he studied in elementary school and later completed his studies at the Beit Berl high school in Shfufit. Israel, known as Erik, had an independent and original way of thinking and excelled in its ability to analyze and solve problems. He chose his way according to his views and opinions, which he refused to compromise by adhering to his positions, never following conventions, if these did not fit his ideas. He was known for his integrity and his candor. He did not spare criticism from anyone he thought he deserved. Israel was one of those young people whose dynamic and dynamic character was always pushed to be among the initiators and activists, both in the field of friends and in daily work. His great love for flying turned out to be a boy. He joined the school’s aviation course and was the driving force behind it. He was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early February 1959. Prior to his induction, he underwent an operation at the hospital in Afula, in order to remove a defect that might have prevented his acceptance to a pilot course. He successfully completed the pilot course and chose to serve as a regular army officer in the air force. As a result, he left his kibbutz and wanted to build a house in Neve-Rom, where he lived with his wife and sons. Israel chose the service in the IDF out of a sense of purpose and deep recognition that a strong Air Force was a guarantee of the country’s security, and participated in the IAF’s operational activities during the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition, and served as an intelligence officer in the squadron. He completed his studies in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technion and was certified as a mechanical engineer. After being certified as an engineer, he worked in the field of development. During his service he was promoted to the rank of major. During the Yom Kippur War, his squadron fought in the Golan Heights, especially in the Hermon region. On October 12, 1973, he set out to attack the Syrian artillery battery in an “enclave” in the northern Golan Heights. In this action his plane was hit and he was killed. He was brought to rest in the cemetery in Neve Eitan. He left behind a wife, three sons, a mother, two brothers and three sisters. The Beit She’an Valley Local Council published a pamphlet in memory of the local people who fell in the Yom Kippur War, and included things about his character.