The IDF hero Maoz Israel Recanati (Z”L) a resident of Itamar in Samaria, was killed before the start of the Sabbath in a battle in southern Lebanon. He was 24 years old when he fell and engaged to be married, just a month before his wedding.
Recanati served as an officer in the 12th Golani Battalion, and before that he was a fighter in the Egoz Patrol. He is survived by his parents and six siblings. Recanati was engaged to Rani, who was studying at a midrash in Yishuv, and was going to marry her in about a month and establish a home in Israel.
The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, paid tribute to him: “Maoz was one of the best of our sons, a brave officer and a dedicated fighter who dedicated his life to the security of the people of Israel. A son of a pioneering family with roots in Itamar, who was raised on the values of love of country and devotion to the state.
“The heart breaks for a young life that was cut short just before a home was built in Israel. All of Samaria bows its head and grieves with the dear family, and embraces them in this difficult time. His image and heroism will accompany us and give us strength to strengthen and build a life here.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also paid tribute, “I would like to send my deepest condolences to the family of the late Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, a platoon commander in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon.
Recanati was a respected commander, brave and devoted to his subordinates – a warrior who led from the front, with responsibility, personal example and love of country. His fall, shortly before he was supposed to build a house and marry the choice of his heart, is heartbreaking and illustrates the unbearable price that our sons pay in the battle for Israel’s security.
My heart goes out to his family, his fiancée, his comrades-in-arms and the IDF fighters, who continue to fight bravely in southern Lebanon to protect the northern communities and remove the threat from the citizens of Israel.”