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“Love Thy Neighbour”– A Hero of Israel

September 17, 2022

Police officer Amir Khouri who was killed in Tuesday’s terror attack in Bnei Brak (Photo: Courtesy of the family )

Christian Friends of Magen David Adom is a not for profit organization that fully supports MDA in Israel’s national emergency medical activities to help save lives. Working with Christians, Muslims and Jews, we serve all communities and peoples. CFMDA strives in various ways to build bridges of understanding and acceptance between the Jews and Christians in Israel. One way of doing this is to show Israelis that Christians support and love the Jewish people and that Israel is not alone. We also have the opportunity to show Christians in Israel and around the world, and that the Jewish people are grateful for their friendship. Here is one example.

Israeli police officers carry the coffin of Israeli Arab policeman Amir Khoury, 32, one of the five people killed in a shooting attack in the religious town of Bnei Brak, during his funeral in Nazareth on March 31, 2022. (JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

On a lovely evening in late spring, this year, a Palestinian Muslim terrorist entered a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak. Bnei Brak is a very congested area of apartment buildings with large families and shops. Going on a shooting spree killing four people, the terrorist was quickly confronted by two policemen, one who was shot before his partner killed the terrorist.

Gersi and Samia Khoury, parents of Amir, and Anne Ayalon in between them.

This young first responder policeman, who gave his life for Orthodox Jews, was First Sergeant Amir Khoury, a 32 year old Christian Arab, originally from a neighbourhood near Nazareth. He is survived by his parents, Gersi and Samia, and three siblings.

Thousands attended Amir’s funeral with an outpouring of sorrow from the Jewish communities for this young man’s tragic death. Mourned as a hero of Israel by Jews and Christians alike, they praised him for his courage and love of Israel.

Amir’s tragedy was turned into a miracle blessing Israel—that the Jewish people could show their love for their neighbour

As Amir was a police patroller on a motorcycle and a first responder to the scene, CFMDA felt he should be honored by dedicating a First Responder Medicycle inscribed with his name. CFMDA President, Anne Ayalon, visited the Khoury’s in their home in Hof Hagalil to ask if they would like MDA to honour Amir in this way, and they were very grateful and moved. “It was an honour to meet these parents that raised such a fine young man”, a tearful Ayalon said. “His name shall be blessed and commemorated in saving lives.”

At CFMDA, we also want our Christian Arab brothers and sisters to know how grateful we are for their support and we want to lift them up. By honouring one of their own, we are honouring them, showing our love through action. It is so important to reach our arms out and embrace this minority group who are active members of Israeli society yet are less vocal and demanding of the government. There is incredible pressure from radical Muslim Arab neighbourhoods to propagandise the Christian Arabs to hate Israel. This is why Amir’s tragedy was turned into a miracle blessing Israel—that the Jewish people could show their love for their neighbour.

CFMDA Australia gives you the opportunity to bless Israel in a meaningful way. You can be involved in many aspects of supporting Israel: not only to raise funds for ambulances and other equipment, but also to advocate on Israel’s behalf, visit the Holy Land, donate blood and even receive training in emergency response care.