Harel Koriat

Harel Koriat, the eldest son of Halit and Yaron and a brother to Omer, was born in Barkan on 22 August 2004 and grew up there. He graduated with honors from ORT Yuvalei Ariel High School, specializing in mechatronics engineering. Alongside his studies, he loved music and played the guitar. Model aviation held a central place in his life: he began competing at twelve, and by fifteen was already representing Israel in competitions abroad. He later also taught other model aircraft pilots.

His love of flight continued into his service in the Israeli Air Force, which he joined in October 2022. He trained as an external pilot and was a remotely piloted aircraft operator in 166 Squadron. During his service, he attended an officers course. When the war broke out, he reported to the squadron and took part in hundreds of hours of operational flying. Second lieutenant Harel Koriat died in the line of duty during the war on 9 February 2025, aged twenty. He was buried at Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery and is survived by his parents and a brother.

Ahead of the first Memorial Day after his death, his grandfather visited his grave before the ceremonies began. In an interview with Ynet, he spoke about his eldest grandson and the talent and achievements that had been part of his young life. Alongside Harel's flying abilities, his grandfather emphasized his willingness to help wherever he could. He recalled that even in competitions, Harel helped those competing against him. His grandfather wanted to be beside him in quiet before the crowds arrived, and said that his grandmother could not join him because she was ill. He struggled to comprehend a reality in which a grandfather bids farewell to his grandson, and chose on that day a quiet, personal encounter with his memory.

His grandfather's words portray Harel as a young man whose achievements and willingness to help others were intertwined: a gifted pilot who competed and excelled, and a beloved grandson who knew how to lend others a hand. Alongside his family's remembrance, his name appears in the memorial works gallery of Daya Art and Metal, with the dates of his birth and death. May his memory be a blessing.