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IDF Staff Sergeants Doron Asulin and Eran Dan-Gur fell in battle in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Last update - 00:48 02/03/2008 Family and friends gather to pay respects to fallen IDF soldiers By Jonathan Lis and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Doron Asulin, Eran Dan-Gur  Dozens of friends arrived on Saturday evening at the family home of 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Eran Dan-Gur, one of the two Givati Brigade soldiers killed in an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip earlier in the day. Dan-Gur and fellow Givat Brigade soldier Doron Asulin, also 20, were killed before dawn in two separate incidents of fire exchange with militants near the Jabaliya refugee camp. Both soldiers were posthumously raised in rank from sergeant to staff sergeant. Advertisement Dan-Gur lived in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem and was a graduate of the Ort Collegiate high school. His mother Miri, with whom he lived, described her son as a "prodigy." Last weekend, Dan-Gur was supposed to head out for a holiday weekend at a zimmer with his girlfriend Limor, but due to the rising tensions in Gaza, he remained on the base and the vacation was canceled. His close friend, Erez Cohen, said: "He was a golden person. He was sharp in school, both a genius and popular. He was a good and nice person, a good friend who helped anywhere he could." Dan-Gur is survived by two younger brothers, his mother and his father Reuven, of Ramat Gan. 'He was not afraid' Meir Asulin, the father of the second IDF soldier to be killed in Gaza on Saturday, described his son as being enthralled with the army and unafraid to carry out his missions. "I spoke with Doron yesterday. He told me he was going on a tour of the outlying regions and would probably be entering Gaza tomorrow [Saturday]. I told him, 'Doron, take care of yourself.' He said to me, 'Dad, it will be all right.' He was not afraid." Asulin served in the Givati Brigade, reaching the unit after a long path. Initially, in March of 2006, he was recruited to become a naval officer, but was dissatisfied with the prospects of his service. After that he transferred to the Duvdevan unit, and from there to the Givati Brigade. "He was enthralled by the army, he wanted to be a combat soldier," his aunt said. Doron's father added that his son had served a year and a half in basic training until he found his niche in the army. "Before he went into Gaza he was ready for the mission," said Meir. "He told me, "Dad we need to get in there, we can't go on like this." Asulin's parents are divorced. His mother and three of his siblings live in Ashdod, and his father lives in Be'er Sheva. Asulin studied in the Amit Yeshiva in Be'er Sheva. His father described him as a karate enthusiast who loved to travel and fish. Asulin's relatives and comrades gathered at his father's Be'er Sheva home on Saturday. His comrades could provide only bits of information about the incident in which Asulin was killed. "They went into the houses, and apparently someone started shooting from one of the house, that's what we do know," said one of the soldiers. "Believe me," his aunt wept. "He was a hero, not a shirker - they just surprised him." Related articles: 2 IDF soldiers, 61 Palestinians die in Gaza clashes 5 hurt in Ashkelon as close to 50 rockets hit southern Israel PA suspends peace talks with Israel over Gaza violence Vice Premier: Reoccupying Gaza will hurt Israel more than help it Bookmark to del.icio.us   Condemned cinema Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive.' Suspecting Syria UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM Hariri murder case.   1.   Two beutiful heroes, rest in peace 23:50  |  fiona 01/03/08   2.   Dan-Gur and Doron Asulin 23:57  |  Calyxcrater 01/03/08   3.   bless you, dear fellows. 00:12  |  frenz 02/03/08   4.   They gave their lives for Israel´s security 00:23  |  AliciaYasmeen 02/03/08   5.   Baruch Dayan emet 00:58  |  HS 02/03/08   6.   Many more victims 01:19  |  Tarzan 02/03/08   7.   May the great Name of God be exalted.... 01:42  |  IL supporter 02/03/08   8.   The pride of Israel - may you fnd peace in death brave warriors 01:52  |  Ariel 02/03/08   9.   My condolences for 04:49  |  K 02/03/08   10.   This is the face of the strength of Israel 05:04  |  Yered Shmuel 02/03/08   11.   G-d HELP THE FAMILIES 05:46  |  TOBIA 02/03/08   12.   To IL supporter 06:26  |  Calyxcrater 02/03/08   13.   am i supposed to weep? 08:18  |  questioner 02/03/08   14.   Solidarity 08:30  |  Tricia Schwitzer 02/03/08   15.   # 5 me too 09:18  |  Joseph . E 02/03/08   16.   kids !!!!! 11:19  |  Ron Iran 02/03/08   17.   #16 2ND TRY Ron Iran 02:09  |  * BEN JABO 03/03/08   18.   #16-2 Ron Iran 03:14  |  * BEN JABO 03/03/08   19.   rip brother 21:27  |  Nemo 30/03/08

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