Ben Shapiro, Freed Hostage Emily Damari, 2 Soldiers and Father of Killed Soldier To Light Torches at Israeli Independence Day Celebration

Conservative talk show host Ben Shapiro, freed hostage Emily Damari, bereaved father Oren Smadga, Lt. Col. Fayez Fares, and Lt. Col. (res.) Hagit Alon Elharar have all been selected to light torches at the April 30 Israeli Independence Day celebration.

The torchbearers were chosen by a special selection panel, approved by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and, where applicable, nominated by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Shapiro, an observant Jewish pundit and outspoken supporter of Israel, is the founder of The Daily Wire and host of the popular Ben Shapiro Show.

Emily Damari was freed from Hamas captivity during the ceasefire.

Oren Smadga’s son Omer Hy”d was killed fighting terrorists in Gaza last year.

Lt. Col. Fayez Fares, from the Druze town of Hurfeish, most recently commanded the Kfir Brigade’s training base and is slated to lead the Ephraim Regional Brigade. On October 7, he and his troops independently reached Kibbutz Re’im, where they fought terrorists and rescued civilians.

Lt. Col. (res.) Hagit Alon Elharar, a mother of three from Ramot Naftali, is a senior logistics officer in the IDF Northern Command. After being evacuated from her home due to Hezbollah attacks, she continued serving in the reserves. Her son, Sgt. Amitay Alon Hy”d, 19, was killed in a Hezbollah drone strike on October 13, 2024.