A ceremony held at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem on Tuesday honored the Border Police’s Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit, paying tribute to Chief Inspector Yatev Lev Halevi, 28, who died in May 2024 of wounds sustained during a raid near Tulkarem in Samaria.
The event drew hundreds of attendees, including members of the Halevi family, security personnel and public officials. Central to the ceremony was the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to Halevi, who participated in numerous operations that prevented terrorist attacks and saved lives.
The ceremony included personal reflections from Halevi’s relatives, remarks from fellow Yamam officers and a musical performance by Israeli singer Idan Amedi. Organizers described the event as part of a wider effort to connect the public with bereaved families and security personnel fighting on the frontlines, with plans to hold it annually.
“The Halevi family has been involved with the museum since its founding,” stated Jonathan Riss, who manages the museum’s operations.
“The commemoration of commander and fighter Yatev Lev Halevi within these walls serves as a lasting source of inspiration, a model of leadership, and a living legacy for the many visitors who come here each day,” added Riss.
Born in Jerusalem, Halevi served in the Israeli military before joining the elite National Counter-Terrorism Unit. During the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre, Halevi operated in several combat zones in southern Israel and took part in hostage rescue missions in Ofakim.
On May 4, 2024, Halevi was critically wounded during an operation in Tulkarem against a Hamas cell linked to terrorist attacks on civilians. He died of his wounds five days later at Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah and was posthumously promoted.
He was the son of retired Jerusalem Police Chief Deputy Commissioner Yoram Halevi, a former commander of the Yamam unit.