Meet the IDF's 'Foreign Legion'

"I've been doing reserve duty with the same guys for 10 years, showing up for every call and every gathering, never missing anything. When Operation Protective Edge began, it was clear that my place was here, with the guys, defending the homeland," says 1st Sgt. Felix Neuber, 31, a reservist living in Finland who is a devoted member of the Armored Corps.

Neuber immigrated to Israel from the Ukraine in 1990 as a seven-year-old boy. When he was 18, he was drafted into the Civil Administration in a role defined as "combat support," but refused to accept his assignment and did his best to change it. After serving for a year and a half, he was reassigned to the Armored Corps, where he underwent basic training and combat training starting from square one until he became an official member of the corps.

"I refused to give up. I did everything I could to get what I wanted. I felt I could contribute more, so I didn't stop until I got what I wanted," Neuber says. When he finished his compulsory service, he began doing reserve duty with the Armored Corps.

The people give us strength

Everything changed three months ago, when Neuber moved to Finland with his wife. Despite the move to a new country, it was clear to him he would continue to serve when called.

"I told the army I'd show up for every call-up. I wouldn't give up my place in the reserve army even though I wasn't living in Israel," he says.

Neuber returned to Israel recently to make the final arrangements for his move abroad, and soon heard that reservists were being called up as part of Operation Protective Edge. He decided to stay in Israel until he was called up.

"The bond between brothers in arms goes all the way. I would do anything to serve again alongside my comrades," he says.

Others besides Neuber dropped everything to take part in the war. Sgt. 1st Class D. of the elite Egoz unit appeared for reserve duty two weeks ago, straight off the plane from Angola.

D., 27, who lives alone in Africa, recounts the moment he was called up: "I first got the call-up by phone from my team leader, who told me the unit was starting to train to go into operation. He didn't need to explain too much. I had already heard about the security situation and I understood what was going on."

After being released from the army five years ago, D. acquired operational experience during Operations Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense.

"It's a big change, moving from civilian life in a foreign country back to the army. But beyond the experience of reserve duty, the importance of serving the country, especially as part of the [Egoz] unit, trumps everything. There's nothing like being with all the guys who fought with me for years, in regular service and in the reserves. I want to thank the people of Israel for the huge support and appreciation they're showing us soldiers, and all the donations they gave us that are giving us strength," D. says.

Master Sgt. Dotan Malka, 33, who lives in Amsterdam and works in security for El Al, also flew straight to Israel and into Operation Protective Edge two weeks ago.

"There wasn't even a question whether I'd show up for reserve duty. I wouldn't give it up under any circumstances," says Malka, who does reserve duty in the Paratroopers Brigade.

Another paratrooper who answered the call to the colors is Maj. Eldar Ben Or, a 29-year-old living in Boston. He was originally drafted into the paratroopers, trained for the brigade's reconnaissance unit, and went on to officer's training. He became the commander of a reconnaissance unit of paratroopers, won promotions, and was released at the rank of major.

After his release, Ben Or and his wife moved to the United States. But three hours after he heard that his unit had been called up, he had a plane ticket -- which he paid for himself -- and headed back into battle.

"I wouldn't leave my soldiers alone. You can't relax when you're so far away," Ben Or says.

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