Holy Land Cop Clan

Stand for Israel  |  August 14, 2019

Since military service in Israel is compulsory, young people from Israeli families will all join the IDF in some fashion. But to serve alongside one’s siblings is rare. Ynet News’ Meir Turgeman tells us about the Zada family, which includes triplets who are realizing their dream of serving together in Israel’s Border Police:

Jerusalem triplets Liel, Kesem and May Zada have never been separated and they did not intend to let their national service change that.

All three are now new recruits in the Border Police, and their mother is both happy and nervous.

“My stomach turns with worry and excitement. My concern as a mother triples,” says 41-year-old Tehila Zada as she embraces her three 18-year-old children. The girls – Kesem and May – enlisted last week and their brother Liel joined them Sunday.

The Zadas are the first set of triplets to enlist in the Border Police. Kesem was born first, May followed her after 15 seconds and little brother Liel was born 40 seconds later.

The trio, who also went to the same Jerusalem high school, have never been separated until last week, when the two sisters enlisted. On Sunday, Liel was among 300 others to join the corps.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Border Police has been at the top of new recruits’ wish list for active service. According to Israel Police data, only one in 16 recruits who want to serve as Border Police fighters are admitted into the corps.

“We were raised on the Border Police,” May says. “My aunt’s husband, Roy Cohen, has been serving in the Border Police in Jerusalem for over 20 years, and we dreamed of serving in the Border Police together since we were children.”

According to May, Cohen’s father Uzi also served in the Border Police. He was killed in March 1996 by a passenger on a Jerusalem bus who blew himself up as a suspicious Cohen approached him. he may have died hismelf, but Cohen saved many of the passengers’ lives…