Maj. Assaf Assoulin

Apr 9, 2002 - Maj. Assaf Assoulin, 30, of Tel Aviv was killed in Nablus as he broke through the wall of a house in the Casbah to be able to see into the alleyway outside. Another IDF force mistook him for a terrorist when they saw something thrown (apparently a piece of the wall) through the opening and shot him.

Maj. Assoulin died of the wound during his evacuation to the hospital (Operation Defensive Shield).

Maj. Assaf Assoulin was born and raised in the Yad Eliahu neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Assaf's father Eliahu died when he was 10. Assaf studied in the Rokach elementary school, the Herzliya Gymnasium and Lady Davis High School, from which he graduated as the outstanding pupil. He was in the Sea Scouts and had an international yachting license.

Assaf served in the Orev unit of the Paratroop Brigade during his compulsory army service. He rose through the ranks and took command of the Paratroop Brigade's engineering unit. When he completed his command, Assaf took vacation without pay and traveled to South America for a year. While in Colombia, he volunteered at an orphanage. He taught the children to read and write Spanish, built wood furniture for them and taught them carpentry.

Assaf returned to the army after his journey abroad. After several important positions he entered the army's Michlalah l'Pikud Ve'mateh. At the beginning of Defensive Shield, the officers in the course were sent to reinforce the soldiers in Jenin. Although Assaf was exempt, he insisted on joining the same engineering unit he had formerly commanded.

Of late, Assaf lived with his girlfriend Anat in Moshav Orot near Kiryat Malachi. They planned to marry in five months and were building a house in Moshav Hatzeva.

Extremely professional and devoted to the army, Assaf often donated money from his salary to soldiers in his company. He did so via the company clerk so the soldiers in need would not know the source of the money. During vacations from the army, he did volunteer work with troubled youth in Jaffa.

Maj. Assaf Assoulin was buried in the military section of the Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv. He leaves behind his mother, three brothers and three sisters.