Roi Klein
Encyclopedia
Roi Klein was a Major
in the Golani Brigade
of the Israeli Defense Forces. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil
during the 2006 Lebanon War after jumping on a grenade
to save his fellow soldiers .
Klein was born in Raanana, Israel
. He began his IDF service in the Paratroopers Brigade
but later transferred to the Golani
Brigade's Egoz Reconnaissance Unit
.
In 2002, Klein received a Chief of Staff
Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus
in which 5 Palestinian terrorists were killed .
During the Battle of Bint Jbeil
, a hand grenade
was thrown into the house where Klein and his unit were present. Klein told his men "Report that I've been killed" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael
, as he jumped on the grenade .
Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya
and Raanana have been named after him.
For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Valor posthumously.
Klein lived in Eli, an Israeli settlement
in the West Bank
. He was married and had two sons: Gilad and Yoav.
In July 2009 the Israel High Court of Justice ruled to demolish the home of Roi Klein, where his family is currently
residing, among 11 homes in Eli .
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
of the Israeli Defense Forces. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil
Battle of Bint Jbeil
The Battle of Bint Jbeil was one of the main battles of the Litani offensive in the 2006 Lebanon War. It consisted of a series of military actions and clashes in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, regarded as the "Hezbollah stronghold" in the south. The town is three kilometers from the...
during the 2006 Lebanon War after jumping on a grenade
Falling on a grenade
Falling on a grenade refers to the deliberate act of using one's body to cover a live time-fused hand grenade, absorbing the explosion and fragmentation in an effort to save the lives of others nearby...
to save his fellow soldiers .
Klein was born in Raanana, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He began his IDF service in the Paratroopers Brigade
Paratroopers Brigade (IDF)
The Paratroopers Brigade , also known as the 35th Brigade, is a unit of paratroopers within the Israel Defense Forces , and forms a major part of the Infantry Corps....
but later transferred to the Golani
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
Brigade's Egoz Reconnaissance Unit
Egoz Reconnaissance Unit
The Egoz Reconnaissance Unit is an elite special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces that specializes in guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare among other things. The Egoz Battalion is part of the Northern Command's Golani Brigade....
.
In 2002, Klein received a Chief of Staff
Ramatkal
The Chief of the General Staff, also known as the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces is the supreme commander and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. At any given time, the Chief of Staff is the only active officer holding the IDF's highest rank, Rav Aluf , which is usually...
Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
in which 5 Palestinian terrorists were killed .
During the Battle of Bint Jbeil
Battle of Bint Jbeil
The Battle of Bint Jbeil was one of the main battles of the Litani offensive in the 2006 Lebanon War. It consisted of a series of military actions and clashes in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, regarded as the "Hezbollah stronghold" in the south. The town is three kilometers from the...
, a hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
was thrown into the house where Klein and his unit were present. Klein told his men "Report that I've been killed" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael
Shema Yisrael
Shema Yisrael are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services...
, as he jumped on the grenade .
Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
and Raanana have been named after him.
For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Valor posthumously.
Klein lived in Eli, an Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. He was married and had two sons: Gilad and Yoav.
In July 2009 the Israel High Court of Justice ruled to demolish the home of Roi Klein, where his family is currently
residing, among 11 homes in Eli .