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Last update - 10:34 30/01/2008 Fallen soldier's father blames himself for son's death in Lebanon war By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ilan Gabay  Aharon Gabay, the father of Lieutenant Ilan Gabay who was killed in the Second Lebanon War, is not waiting for the final report of the Winograd Committee to be released Wednesday. He says he knows the details of what happened in the war, and is not interested in the public implications of the report. Instead, he admits his failure. "What can possibly happen after the report is released? So Olmert will remain in power a few more months, another year. In the end he will leave. What is important is what I did not do during the war," explained Gabay. Advertisement "I knew where I was sending my son," said Gabay last week. "I saw the illogical missions they were given, I knew there was no connection between their capabilities and the missions. I knew they had not trained enough and they were missing equipment. We did not lay ourselves down for them while we were watching senior officers running to be interviewed on television," said Gabay. "We did not stop it in time, and now I have no interest in going to demonstrate across from the gates to the Knesset... My opinions I tell my friends," he explained. Ilan Gabay, 21 at the time of his death, was from Kiryat Tivon. He insisted on joining the paratroopers and following a combat and command path, despite suffering from severe asthma as a child. He was killed on August 1, 2006 in a battle with the Hezbollah near Ita A-Shaab. A few days earlier, his good friend from the paratroopers was killed, Lieutenant Yiftah Shreyer. Aharon Gabay prefered to keep his mourning to himself: "Talk will not bring Ilan back, and not remove the pain." But it was actually Defense Minister Ehud Barak who shined the spotlight on Gabay's personal pain. Gabay senior had served in the Sayeret Matkal elite commando unit under Barak, taking part in a famous 1973 undercover operation in Beirut. In a speech last March, Barak told of his meeting with Aharon Gabay at the end of the war, and of Ilan's death. Gabay was uncomfortable with the reminder, but he is still faithful to his former commander. "As long as Barak stays in the government, I am willing to tolerate Olmert too," said Gabay after praising Barak. Since Ilan fell, his family has done much to memorialize him. A paratroop company is called after him, a memorial site has been built near their home, and a scenic lookout has been named after him in Elon Moreh. Related articles: Bereaved families no longer ready to mourn in silence Bereaved parents call on PM to resign in 'alternative Winograd report' PM angers bereaved, sends tape in lieu of attending IDF memorial The main findings of the Winograd partial report on the Second Lebanon War Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   I feel with you, I am a Father too!! 05:50  |  Libnanee 30/01/08   2.   `Libnanee` `I feel with you` too 06:53  |  Israeeli 30/01/08   3.   Libnanee where were you 07:04  |  miloimnick frm north 30/01/08   4.   #1 your hero Nasrallah says you love death, so which is it? 07:42  |  McQueen 30/01/08   5.   #1 any day Israel still lives is a victory 07:43  |  McQueen 30/01/08   6.   allow your heart to love your enemy 08:14  |  27 Million 30/01/08   7.   Libnanee: What Did You Do To Get The PLO, et al, Out Of Lebanon? 08:20  |  Lavi 30/01/08   8.   #`s 1 & 2 to libnanee & israeeli 09:30  |  eric 30/01/08   9.   27 million 10:04  |  Iz Ray Leigh 30/01/08   10.   Eric 10:05  |  Iz Ray Leigh 30/01/08   11.   The wanna be killer got killed himself. Fact. 10:19  |  Dutch Dirk 30/01/08   12.   Dutch Dirk 10:27  |  Fact 30/01/08   13.   Dutch Dirk, I agree with you 11:30  |  Eleni 30/01/08   14.   To Erik 12:01  |  Fairuz 30/01/08   15.   Dutch Dirk - Israel defends your freedom 12:07  |  Michael Jacobs 30/01/08   16.   11 # Dutch Jerk 12:38  |  Steve 30/01/08   17.   eric So who`s full of what? 12:38  |  miloimnick frm north 30/01/08   18.   Media Whitewash 13:35  |  OG 30/01/08   19.   Amen 14:27  |  Michael 30/01/08   20.   A human to all Lebanese and Israleis 16:23  |  An Arab 30/01/08   21.   Eric and Fairuz 16:28  |  Another Lebanese 30/01/08   22.   Dirk -go back to killing your elderly 16:48  |  Doug 30/01/08   23.   # 22, Dog in Portland 17:24  |  Wolfgang 30/01/08   24.   2 israeli,how many israelis were killed by the katushkas,43 in 17:30  |  lakshmi 30/01/08   25.   How about the HoloCluster? 17:38  |  Aounist 30/01/08   26.   Israeli fathers want to pick and choose responses to terror 18:11  |  William 30/01/08   27.   Aounist # 25 18:20  |  Jack 30/01/08   28.   Soldiers kill or get killed 19:29  |  Kris 30/01/08   29.   To #27 Jack: Spraying cluster bombs was not the only crime by IDF 19:31  |  Aounist 30/01/08   30.   israeeli 2 19:48  |  realism 30/01/08   31.   to iz ray leigh # 10: seems i got one; do i have both? 05:30  |  eric 31/01/08   32.   # 14 thank you for your comment, fairuz... 05:53  |  eric 31/01/08

Today Online PM: War report 'lifts moral stigma' from me Responses: 52 Jewish group to build 200 new homes in East Jerusalem Responses: 45 Winograd: Current use of cluster bombs not in line with int'l law Responses: 32 Rosner's Guest: Israelis don't know enough about Diaspora Jewry Responses: 4 Israel Harel: Public shares blame for mistakes in war Responses: 2 Yossi Sarid: Olmert has to go, with or without war report Send response Rosner's Domain The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one Rosner's Guest: Israelis do not know enough about Jewish Diaspora Jewish vote in Florida: 58% for Clinton (WTR) Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? Back to divestment from Israel (WTR) More Headlines 13:38 PM: Winograd report 'lifts moral stigma' from me 13:50 FM Livni: Government must translate war critique into action 13:09 Peretz: Lebanon War was missed opportunity, but had to be done 11:54 Palestinian militant killed by IDF fire in southern Gaza Strip 13:44 Calls said growing within Labor for Barak to quit Olmert coalition 10:03 Jewish group to build 200 new housing units in East Jerusalem 13:55 Shekel hits 10-year high against dollar as U.S. interest rates cut 07:46 ANALYSIS: Was Lebanon War necessary? Report doesn't say 07:44 Winograd: Current use of cluster bombs not in line with int'l law 08:00 Israel says Libya unworthy of seat on UN Security Council 10:46 Beijing's only Kosher restuarant mulls second branch ahead of Olympics 12:38 Giuliani yields and backs McCain, who gets Schwarzenegger bid too Previous Editions Select Day 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan

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