Thursday, August 18, 2011

Israel's Latest Hero

Benny Belevsky, a 60-year-old bus driver, became Israel's latest hero. Belevsky was driving the Egged bus from Beersheba to Eilat that was attacked by three terrorists on Thursday.

So what makes Belevsky a hero?

Put yourself in his place. What would you do if, in the middle of an otherwise uneventful trip, the windows around you suddenly shattered as bullets zipped past your head? I think an individual's first reaction might be to hit the brakes and duck for cover. And that's likely what the terrorists were hoping would happen. With rifles and antitank missiles at the ready, a stationary bus filled with people would make an excellent target.

But Belevsky didn't react that way. Instead, he accelerated...driving through the hail of gunfire and refusing to stop until he reached the nearest military checkpoint. In an interview with Ynet News, Belevsky explained what happened...and why he responded as he did. "The bullets hit the bus and two of them shattered the window near me, passed just above my head and hit the ceiling. I am experienced enough to know that I should keep driving and that I mustn't stop so that the damage doesn't get worse."

It's the quick reaction of ordinary people like Belevsky that helps make Israel such a remarkable country. Thank you, Benny Belevsky, for responding with such wisdom and courage under fire! You really are one of Israel's many unsung heroes!

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