Soldier's mother mourns son's death

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Written by Benji

When called to reserves, Staff Sergeant Yesamu Yalau cancelled scheduled trip to visit mother in Ethiopia, saying 'My friends need me'. Mother landed Friday in Israel and met IDF representatives, instead of her son

Slightly after midnight Friday, Gundera Yalau landed in Israel 's Ben-Gurion airport, expecting to meet her son Yesamu, who had immigrated to Israel alone in 2001. Instead, she was greeted by IDF representatives and the tragic news that her son had been killed by enemy fire near Bint Jbeil on Tuesday.

The incident was the same one that claimed the life of Capt. Gilad Balhasan, 29, from Carmiel. The two entered Lebanese territory at night, next to the Lebanese village of Labona, in the Bint Jbeil area, and were killed in an exchange of fire after encountering a Hizbullah terrorist cell. Since the onset of the current conflict on July 12th, 121 Israelis, soldiers and civilians, have been killed.

Reserves Staff Sergeant Yesamu Yalau, 26, served in the Golani infantry brigade and, according to his friends, the brigade was his life. Half a year ago, he was released from compulsory service and began work as a security guard during the day. At nights, he volunteered with the civil guard.

A day before fighting broke out, Yesamu was scheduled to visit his mother in Ethiopia, but when he heard of the kidnap of two IDF soldiers, he cancelled his trip. "My friends need me with them," he told his brother-in-law, Mulogata. A day later, he was called up for reserves service and requested to be among the first sent to combat.

For months, Yesamu had tried to bring his mother to Israel, but to no avail. Upon his death, family members decided to do everything they could to make his wish come true. Local IDF representatives appealed to the Jewish Agency, who located the mother, and on Thursday, flew her from Ethiopia to Israel. Yesamu's mother did not know that her son had been killed prior to taking off and was only informed of the terrible news upon her arrival.

Yesamu's funeral will take place Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv.

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