Eli Federman and Israel's Lonely Heroes

Three years ago today, Eli Federman was guarding Studio 49 nightclub in Tel Aviv and saw a car racing toward it. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade member Amer Shkokani intended to crash into the nightclub with several bombs.

The veteran of the elite Golani Brigade quickly reacted and prevented a massacre: "Instinctively I threw three people aside, took out a pistol with my other hand, and fired a shot. The terrorist fell into the car as it blew up. After the explosion, I shot some more bullets at his head."

That's a Jew.

When I visited Israel in 2003, the shomrim (guards) like Federman at supermarkets and malls struck me as the most exposed soldiers in the country, alone against the enemy every day. Guards who have died protecting their countrymen include Alexander Kostyuk, Mutanus Karkabi, Kiryl Shremko, Julio Pedro Magram, and Arkadi Blobstein.

Israel has many memorials for fallen soldiers. Is there one for the shomrim?