Rahal, Majed (“Abu Khaled”)

Son of Nadwa and Qassem. Was born on January 1, 1958, in the Bedouin village of Beit Zarzir. He is from a family of six. Majed attended the state elementary school in his village. He was a smiling, good-hearted guy who loved life and was a friend to everyone and very beloved in his village. Before his enlistment Majid married his cousin Kamila to the woman and in September 1978 he volunteered for military service and was sent to a scouts course, where he was trained as a tracker and later as a senior tracker, and served in various combat brigades during his service. In every opinion on resistors, Majed received very high ratings, including: “A senior detective, doing his job in the best possible way, disciplined, with a very good profession, an excellent soldier, loved and loved by everyone.” Majid He advanced from the command echelons to the rank of advanced sergeant, and during the period of his service in the IDF, Majed and Kamela had seven children. He was a warm and loving family man and was satisfied with all the needs of his family. Majid thought about the future of his children and planned to build a house for each of them. Although he was far from home, his children were attached to him, always missed and waited for his vacations from the army. Majed was a devoted and loving son and brother, always helping his mother and brother. According to his family, Majid was “like a candle in the dark hours,” “the pillar of a house.” On August 19, 1993, he fell in battle in Lebanon. Majed was injured during an operation carried out by his unit in south Lebanon, in the Sheikin area. Eight other soldiers were killed: Assaf Avni, Tzachi Dali, Ari Vidal, Nir Zlait, Golan Hazan, Asaf Tenenbaum, Mishael Levi and Avi Fisher. Majed was laid to rest in the civilian cemetery in his village, Beit Zarzir. He left behind Raya – Kamila, seven children – Khaled, Amir, Amira, Muhammad, Shadi, Rasmiya and Shadia, mother, four brothers – ‘Ataf, Muhammad, Ahmad and Mazen. He was thirty-five years old when he fell. After his death he was promoted to the rank of senior sergeant. “Majid was a brother and a hero and symbolized the alliance between the Jews and the Bedouins,” said the head of the regional council. GOC Northern Command, Yitzhak Mordechai, said goodbye to Majed: “A friend and a brother in arms, we know how to cherish the way you and your comrades go. In a condolence letter to the family, the unit commander wrote: “A few minutes before Majed was wounded, he saved Avi Fisher when he discovered a mine under his feet … A few minutes later they were both killed by another bomb … Majed was a senior tracker. He participated in the pursuit of terrorists in Lebanon, Majid was a man with a heart of gold, a friend of all, a good heart, always with a smile on his face … went ahead and set an example for others. “