1997- Tom Kitian
Tom was born in 1976 on Kibbutz Shoval. When he was nine years old, he moved with his family to a Jewish-Arab settlement called Neve Shalom. At Neve Shalom, he developed his love of nature, values of peace, brotherhood and love for humanity. Tom was very close to his family. As a young man, he participated in a peace mission to India and Spain with a delegation of Jews and Arabs. Tom was the first soldier from Neve Shalom. In 1994, he was drafted to the Nachal brigade and finished his track with special honors. He was then chosen to take on a commanding role. On the eve of February 4, 1997, the Helicopter Tragedy took place, in which two Yasur helicopters crashed into one another over Moshav Shaar Yishuv. 73 soldiers, who were on their way to a mission in Lebanon, were killed. Tom was one of the 73 soldiers. In a letter to Tom’s family, the IDF Chief of Staff wrote, “Tom served as a fighter in the Engineering unit of the Nachal brigade and was described by his commanders as a model soldier; professional, devoted, and personable…” One of Tom’s teachers, and a Palestinian from Neve Shalom said, “I don’t know if there is another Jewish soldier that was killed that has so many Palestinians following the body [in mourning].”
Tom was born in 1976 on Kibbutz Shoval. When he was nine years old, he moved with his family to a Jewish-Arab settlement called Neve Shalom. At Neve Shalom, he developed his love of nature, values of peace, brotherhood and love for humanity. Tom was very close to his family. As a young man, he participated in a peace mission to India and Spain with a delegation of Jews and Arabs. Tom was the first soldier from Neve Shalom. In 1994, he was drafted to the Nachal brigade and finished his track with special honors. He was then chosen to take on a commanding role. On the eve of February 4, 1997, the Helicopter Tragedy took place, in which two Yasur helicopters crashed into one another over Moshav Shaar Yishuv. 73 soldiers, who were on their way to a mission in Lebanon, were killed. Tom was one of the 73 soldiers. In a letter to Tom’s family, the IDF Chief of Staff wrote, “Tom served as a fighter in the Engineering unit of the Nachal brigade and was described by his commanders as a model soldier; professional, devoted, and personable…” One of Tom’s teachers, and a Palestinian from Neve Shalom said, “I don’t know if there is another Jewish soldier that was killed that has so many Palestinians following the body [in mourning].”