Yonatan Vermeulen, a Christian immigrant, was born in a small village in  Holland.   He came to Israel with his parents at age four after the Yom Kippur War.   In the mid- '70s this little boy with blue eyes, blonde hair and thick eyelashes became the Jewish National Fund's poster child [see photo at top of page].   

    When his parents returned to Holland 10 years ago, Yonatan chose to remain in Israel.  Because of his strong identification with and love for Israel, he wrote to the Queen of the Netherlands requesting an exemption from service in the Dutch army.  This was granted.   

     Jonatan began his service in the IDF in 1993, and after completing his military service, joined the police anti-terror squad in 1996.  Two years later,  Yonatan Vermeulen, 29, joined the high-risk Border Police Sappers Unit in the Gaza Strip.  To friends who didn't understand why he chose to risk his life, he said: "This is where I spent most of my life and this is where I belong. This is my home."  

   On December 28, 2000 he and a fellow sapper  were called to dismantle a road-side bomb near the Sufa crossing in the Gaza Strip. As the two gathered around the bomb, a hidden second bomb was detonated by remote control. Police Sgt.-Major Yonatan Vermeulen was killed instantly and Israel mourned yet another fallen soldier... another son!  And another victim of the "peace process."

     For those Jews who think black Ethiopian Jews pollute the Israeli landscape and would deny them their place within Israeli society, remember forever the name Gad Marasha.   Marasha immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia with his family 20 years ago.  Recruited to the army in 1990, he volunteered to join the trackers unit and served as leader of the IDF's Southern Command... the only Jewish member of a unit composed of Bedouins.  Capt. Gad Marasha, 30, was the sapper who died while assisting Yonatan Vermeulen when the roadside bomb detonated.

Thank God Israel's loyal Zionists come from all religions AND in all colors! And they come in all races. Major Lee Cho O was born in Vietnam but came to Israel with her family as refugees, granted permission to do so by a decision by former Prime Minister, Menahem Begin. Lee Cho O is now more Israeli than many other other Israelis. She is a Major in the army!

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