(3 Aug 2006)
1. Coffin covered with Israeli flag carried into Mount Herzl military ceremony
2. Young Israeli soldiers gathering for funeral
3. Military pallbearers lowering the coffin into grave
4. Close up of Israeli flag on coffin, zoom out
5. Various of relatives and friends of Michael Levin, many in military uniform, people crying and hugging each other
6. Michael Levin's father (wearing red skullcap) reciting a prayer
7. SOUNDBITE (English, Hebrew) unnamed wounded Israeli soldier:
"(English) And to Michael's family, the 890th battalion, and the operation company, we are always Michael's family, and you are as well for ever one of ours, one of our family. (switching to Hebrew) His memory will be blessed."
8. Large crowd gathered at graveside, pan across
STORYLINE:
An American who had immigrated to Israel and died fighting for the Israeli army in Lebanon was buried on Thursday in Jerusalem.
Michael Levin, 22, immigrated to Israel about four years ago, first to study and live on a kibbutz before enlisting in an Israeli paratroop unit, friends said.
He died fighting Hezbollah guerrillas in Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, when an anti-tank missile struck a building he was searching on Tuesday.
He was one of three Israelis killed in the battle.
He had been visiting his family but had cut short his trip to return and fight.
Levin was buried during an emotional ceremony in the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem.
Several hundred mourners, many of them in army uniform, attended the burial.
His coffin was draped with the Israeli flag.
A wounded Israeli soldier made an emotional speech at the funeral, saying: "And to Michael's family, the 890th battalion, and the operation company, we are always Michael's family, and you are as well for ever one of ours, one of our family".
Levin is survived by his parents and two sisters, one of them his twin.
A memorial service will be held on Monday at Shir Ami synagogue in Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA.
Levin was the third soldier of foreign origin serving in the Israeli army to die in combat during the past week.
Previous fatalities were originally from Moldova and Australia.
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