Na'aman Belkind

Belkind was among the first Jews to enlist in the Ottoman army. However, upon the Ottoman alliance with the Germans during World War I, he recognized that the empire was likely to face defeat. Subsequently, he joined his cousin Avshalom Feinberg, and was one of the first Nili members.^[2]

In January 1917, Avshalom Feinberg and Yosef Lishansky went to a mission to meet with the British in Egypt, In the mission they were attacked by two Ottoman soldiers and a gang of Bedouin. Lishansky survived the attack and managed to reach a British patrol while Feinberg was killed.^[3]

In September 1917, Following the attack, Belkind doubted the reports about Feinberg's death and went to Egypt to investigate himself. Caught by Beduin in the Sinai, he was handed over to the Ottomans and brought to Damascus. He was charged with spying and tortured in jail.^[4]

While Belkind was in jail, the Ottomans found out about a cell in Zikhron Yaakov and caught most of Nili activists.^{[citation needed]}

In October 1917, He was hanged in Damascus with Yosef Lishansky who was caught in Zikhron Yaakov.^{[citation needed]}

On October 24, 1919, the body of Belknd was brought to Israel and buried in Rishon LeZion.^[5] Belkind had a wife and a one year old baby at the time of his death. 60 years after his death the Nili Ribbon was given to his family.^{[citation needed]}

In 1982 he was featured in the stamp set "Martyrs of the Struggle for Israel's Independence".^[6][7][8]