Israeli, Haim

Son of Israel Violetta. He was born on April 24, 1946 in Sofia, Bulgaria. A year after the establishment of the State of Israel, he immigrated to Israel with his family, who settled in Tel Aviv. He studied at Dan Elementary School and joined Scouts for a while, but soon turned all his energies to physical activity and sports and was active in the soccer division of the Hapoel Association, the Afeka branch. Along with being active in sports, he was sensitive to art and had an interesting combination of an athlete and an artist. He completed his studies at the Telma Yellin High School in Tel Aviv, studied painting and music, but especially achieved impressive achievements in photography, and joined the IDF in the middle of August 1966 and volunteered to serve in the paratroopers. The many trips he made on foot with his unit increased his love for Israel and together with the love of photography, it gave his photographs a unique artistic value. During the Six Day War he participated in battles on two fronts: the southern front (the conquest of Gaza) and the Golan Heights. An album released by his unit after the war commemorates many of his photographs, which were made during the fighting. He went with his unit to the Jordan Valley, took part in the raid on Karameh, where he was lightly wounded. After he recovered, he returned to the unit and was transferred to the northern part of the Canal Front – the swamp area and during an operation he went on a mine and was seriously injured. His great love for sport and physical activity did not diminish and after he was discharged from compulsory service, he continued his studies at the Wingate Physical Education School and successfully completed it while on reserve duty on July 27, 1972. He was killed while carrying out his duties. To rest forever in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul.