Idan Raichel is one of the most beloved musicians active in Israel over the past two decades, but he too could not hold back the tears when he was interviewed on television Friday night when he spoke about one of his friends who were killed in the fierce battles with the terrorists who infiltrated into Israeli territory last Saturday from the Gaza Strip.
"If Roy Levy [Col. Roy Levy, commander of the multidimensional unit] had seen this Shabbat reception and everything that happened here this week with the civilian leadership, he would have called me," Reichel said through tears when interviewed by Erez Tal and Avri Gilad on Keshet 12, while trying to stay focused. "If he had lived another 6 days, he would now call me and say, 'You see, this is what I fought for, for the civilian leadership, for them I fought.'"
At the end of this sentence, Reichel stunned the presenters Tal and Gilad, saying, "Listen, we're on air, but I need to get out of here." Tal said to him in astonishment, "We're on air," but Reichel repeated his words, his face looking astonished, thanked them – and got off the air.
Roy Levy z"l and Idan Reichel,
Last Saturday morning, close to reports of terrorists in Kibbutz Reim, the multidimensional unit was dispatched to the area and sought contact, led by its commander, 44-year-old Colonel Levy, in order to rescue civilians who were besieged in their homes, eliminating about 10 terrorists, a battle in which Levy was killed.
In the past, Levy commanded the Golani Patrol during Operation Protective Edge, in which he was mortally wounded in battle in Sejaiya, after an anti-tank missile hit a terrorist house he entered – and collapsed on its occupants. After a period of rehabilitation, he commanded the Hadas Battalion in Bahad 1, and later returned to Golani, where he commanded the elite Egoz unit.
Levy then served as brigade commander of the Baram Brigade. During his tenure, Hezbollah's flagship tunnels were neutralized in Operation Northern Shield. Levy commanded the fire training center at the Israel Defense Council, and two months ago began his role as commander of the multidimensional unit.
Col. Roy Levy (Archive),
"He was my beloved and he made me proud that he chose me to be his friend and confidant," Reichel wrote in a post on his Facebook page on Monday about Levy. "I always knew he would die in battle. That he wants to live, but that he should die as a warrior. And I knew from the days when our friendship was formed that he would have a military funeral at that juncture when we talked about retiring from the army or moving on. I told you that maybe it could be seen differently, that it was not your decision, and that you agreed that you were elected and you are not on your own, and that there has been a chain of great warlords and warriors since the dawn of the people. And that necklace chose you as a link no less than you chose it."
"Roy was required and chose to report to Israel. And he was required and he chose to fight, and he was required and he chose to lead and command," Reichel added. "When I told you, Roy, that it wasn't your decision, that you had to continue, I said and I knew deep down that one day I would look Tsuri, your wonderful firstborn, in the eye, and I knew that if anything happened to you I would be there for her for the rest of my life. I told you that you should continue to command for the whole nation. I said and thought about how much you loved all your children, all of them, and what would happen to them. And that I will be there for them for the rest of my life. How you loved all your warriors. How much you loved your commanders and subordinates, the people and the country."
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