15 oct 2005
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda, 21, of Tel Aviv, died of wounds suffered on Jan 7, 2005 when ambushed by Palestinian gunmen on the Trans-Samaria Highway. Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda and his three friends were on their way to spend Shabbat in Ma'aleh Efraim at a pre-military training academy they had attended before being drafted. St-Sgt. Yosef Atia was killed and the three other off-duty soldiers were wounded in the attack. Security officials said that more than 30 bullets had hit their car. Moments earlier, the terrorists had fired on another car, lightly wounding an Israeli civilian. Ariel Buda, who suffered serious wounds to the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on October 15 at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda was buried in the Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda and his three friends were on their way to spend Shabbat in Ma'aleh Efraim at a pre-military training academy they had attended before being drafted. St-Sgt. Yosef Atia was killed and the three other off-duty soldiers were wounded in the attack. Security officials said that more than 30 bullets had hit their car. Moments earlier, the terrorists had fired on another car, lightly wounding an Israeli civilian. Ariel Buda, who suffered serious wounds to the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on October 15 at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
2nd Lt. Ariel Buda was buried in the Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
21 sept 2005
Sasson Nuriel
Sasson Nuriel, 51, of Jerusalem was kidnapped and slain by Palestinian terrorists. His body was found on September 26 in a garbage dump in the industrial zone of Bitunya, west of Ramallah.
Sasson Nuriel, formerly a self-employed candy manufacturer in the Mishor Adumim industrial zone east of Jerusalem, was forced to close his business due to financial difficulties and worked as an independent contractor at the nearby Maya spice factory.
On Wednesday, September 21, Nuriel apparently left the factory to buy chocolate, and never returned. When he failed to return home after work, his family informed the police that he was missing.
Acting on the intelligence, investigators managed to track the Hamas cell involved in the kidnapping and arrested one of its members. Following questioning, the Hamas terrorist disclosed the location of Nuriel's body, who was apparently killed shortly after his abduction. Hamas claimed responsibility for his abduction and murder in a video it broadcast worldwide.
The arrest of the Hamas terror cell responsible for the attack in October 2005 revealed that the two men who kidnapped Nuriel had apparently worked in his candy factory in Mishor Adumim. The pair lured Nuriel to the village of a-Ram, north of Jerusalem, ostensibly to buy a coffee machine. On the way to the village, they abducted him at gunpoint and led him to the garbage dump in the village Betunia, west of Ramallah, where they stabbed him to death.
Sasson Gad (Sassi) was born in 1955 in Hadera to parents Haviva and Eliyahu. Their second child, he grew up with his two sisters, Tikva and Yaffa, in Netanya, where he completed his schooling. Sasson served in the navy as an electric technician, completing his military service in 1977 with the rank of first sergeant.
Sasson and his wife Ronit were married in 1980 and lived in Netanya, where their three children were born. In 1989 the family moved to Jerusalem, and several years later decided to become religiously observant.
Nuriel's widow, Ronit, described her husband Sassi as the love of her life, the most wonderful, warm and loving person. "He was a family man, a devoted father, husband, friend and brother. He worked for many years with Arabs and respected them, as he respected every human being."
Sasson Nuriel was buried in the Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by wife Ronit, their three children - Meital, Hovav Assaf, and Ori - and his sisters Tikva and Yaffa.
Sasson Nuriel, formerly a self-employed candy manufacturer in the Mishor Adumim industrial zone east of Jerusalem, was forced to close his business due to financial difficulties and worked as an independent contractor at the nearby Maya spice factory.
On Wednesday, September 21, Nuriel apparently left the factory to buy chocolate, and never returned. When he failed to return home after work, his family informed the police that he was missing.
Acting on the intelligence, investigators managed to track the Hamas cell involved in the kidnapping and arrested one of its members. Following questioning, the Hamas terrorist disclosed the location of Nuriel's body, who was apparently killed shortly after his abduction. Hamas claimed responsibility for his abduction and murder in a video it broadcast worldwide.
The arrest of the Hamas terror cell responsible for the attack in October 2005 revealed that the two men who kidnapped Nuriel had apparently worked in his candy factory in Mishor Adumim. The pair lured Nuriel to the village of a-Ram, north of Jerusalem, ostensibly to buy a coffee machine. On the way to the village, they abducted him at gunpoint and led him to the garbage dump in the village Betunia, west of Ramallah, where they stabbed him to death.
Sasson Gad (Sassi) was born in 1955 in Hadera to parents Haviva and Eliyahu. Their second child, he grew up with his two sisters, Tikva and Yaffa, in Netanya, where he completed his schooling. Sasson served in the navy as an electric technician, completing his military service in 1977 with the rank of first sergeant.
Sasson and his wife Ronit were married in 1980 and lived in Netanya, where their three children were born. In 1989 the family moved to Jerusalem, and several years later decided to become religiously observant.
Nuriel's widow, Ronit, described her husband Sassi as the love of her life, the most wonderful, warm and loving person. "He was a family man, a devoted father, husband, friend and brother. He worked for many years with Arabs and respected them, as he respected every human being."
Sasson Nuriel was buried in the Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by wife Ronit, their three children - Meital, Hovav Assaf, and Ori - and his sisters Tikva and Yaffa.
24 aug 2005
Shmuel Mett
Shmuel Mett, 21, of Britain, a Mir Yeshiva student, was fatally stabbed near Jaffa Gate in the Old City while returning to the yeshiva in Jerusalem’s Beit Yisrael neighborhood.
Shmuel Mett and his friend, Sam Weissbart, were returning to the yeshiva from the Western Wall when a Palestinian man stabbed them with a large kitchen knife close to Jaffa Gate. Shmuel was transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital with CPR in progress. He was taken directly into surgery but the trauma team was unable to reverse the profound shock which resulted from the major blood loss. He was pronounced dead in the operating room. Sam was moderately wounded. Another student was lightly wounded.
Shmuel, from the Gerer Hassidic community in Golders Green in north London, came to Jerusalem from Britain to study about a year and a half ago. He is descended from one of England's most prominent Orthodox families and his mother is the sister of well-regarded London rabbi, Joseph Pearlman.
Mett attended the Hasmonean High School, a Jewish grammar school in Hendon. He and Sam Weissbart, born in New York, had been friends since attending the Pardes House school in Golders Green and later the Gateshead Yeshiva before coming to Israel. Both had regularly attended the Hagers synagogue in Golders Green.
Rabbi Binyamin Carlebach, head of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, related that Shmuel would get up every morning at 4:00 to study. Eli Stern, a fellow student from London, described him as "a very smiley chap. He was sociable and had lots of friends. But he was very committed to what he was doing." Shmuel was engaged to marry Dina Rosenfeld in London in October and then to settle permanently in Jerusalem.
Shmuel Mett was buried in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Percy and Judith, who flew from London for the funeral. He is also survived by three siblings in London and two brothers and a sister residing in Israel.
Shmuel Mett and his friend, Sam Weissbart, were returning to the yeshiva from the Western Wall when a Palestinian man stabbed them with a large kitchen knife close to Jaffa Gate. Shmuel was transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital with CPR in progress. He was taken directly into surgery but the trauma team was unable to reverse the profound shock which resulted from the major blood loss. He was pronounced dead in the operating room. Sam was moderately wounded. Another student was lightly wounded.
Shmuel, from the Gerer Hassidic community in Golders Green in north London, came to Jerusalem from Britain to study about a year and a half ago. He is descended from one of England's most prominent Orthodox families and his mother is the sister of well-regarded London rabbi, Joseph Pearlman.
Mett attended the Hasmonean High School, a Jewish grammar school in Hendon. He and Sam Weissbart, born in New York, had been friends since attending the Pardes House school in Golders Green and later the Gateshead Yeshiva before coming to Israel. Both had regularly attended the Hagers synagogue in Golders Green.
Rabbi Binyamin Carlebach, head of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, related that Shmuel would get up every morning at 4:00 to study. Eli Stern, a fellow student from London, described him as "a very smiley chap. He was sociable and had lots of friends. But he was very committed to what he was doing." Shmuel was engaged to marry Dina Rosenfeld in London in October and then to settle permanently in Jerusalem.
Shmuel Mett was buried in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Percy and Judith, who flew from London for the funeral. He is also survived by three siblings in London and two brothers and a sister residing in Israel.
23 july 2005
Rachel Kol
Rachel Kol, 53, of Jerusalem and her husband Dov were killed late Saturday night near the Kissufim crossing in the southern Gaza Strip while returning home from visiting family in Gush Katif.
Dov and Rachel had spent Shabbat with Rachel's sister in Ganei Tal where the whole family celebrated the recent birth of the Kols' first granddaughter, Hallel. They were returning home when the terrorists opened fire on the couple's car near the Gush Katif junction. Both were killed. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rachel had worked for the last 20 years as a technician in the neurology laboratory at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem.
The Kols met in tragic circumstances. Dov was widowed 20 years ago. His first wife, Hani, was Rachel's best friend. "Rachel looked after Hani devotedly until the day she died in 1985. After this tragedy Dov and Rachel drew gradually closer until in July 1986 they were married," said a friend of the couple. Together they raised Hani's daughter, Hila, and their two children, Tamar and Yonatan.
Rachel's sister, Ilana, said, "This family is an amazing combination of everything, right and left, religious and secular, in the united and fully appreciative way that the State of Israel should be. They were an outstanding example of how this country's diverse groups should get along."
Rachel Kol was buried alongside her husband Dov in Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. She is survived by daughters Hila, 24, and Tamar, 17, son Yonatan, 15, and newborn granddaughter, Hallel, Hila's daughter. Rachel is also survived by her parents, six sisters, and a brother.
Dov and Rachel had spent Shabbat with Rachel's sister in Ganei Tal where the whole family celebrated the recent birth of the Kols' first granddaughter, Hallel. They were returning home when the terrorists opened fire on the couple's car near the Gush Katif junction. Both were killed. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rachel had worked for the last 20 years as a technician in the neurology laboratory at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem.
The Kols met in tragic circumstances. Dov was widowed 20 years ago. His first wife, Hani, was Rachel's best friend. "Rachel looked after Hani devotedly until the day she died in 1985. After this tragedy Dov and Rachel drew gradually closer until in July 1986 they were married," said a friend of the couple. Together they raised Hani's daughter, Hila, and their two children, Tamar and Yonatan.
Rachel's sister, Ilana, said, "This family is an amazing combination of everything, right and left, religious and secular, in the united and fully appreciative way that the State of Israel should be. They were an outstanding example of how this country's diverse groups should get along."
Rachel Kol was buried alongside her husband Dov in Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. She is survived by daughters Hila, 24, and Tamar, 17, son Yonatan, 15, and newborn granddaughter, Hallel, Hila's daughter. Rachel is also survived by her parents, six sisters, and a brother.
Dov Kol
Dov Kol, 58, of Jerusalem and his wife Rachel were killed late Saturday night near the Kissufim crossing in the southern Gaza Strip while returning home from visiting family in Gush Katif.
Dov and Rachel had spent Shabbat with Rachel's sister in Ganei Tal where the whole family celebrated the recent birth of the Kols' first granddaughter, Hallel. They were returning home when the terrorists opened fire on the couple's car near the Gush Katif junction. Both were killed. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Between 1976 and 1992 he worked in the NII and served as its spokesman for many years. Current NII spokesman Haim Fitussi described Kol as "a man of peace, who had Jewish and Arab friends from every part of the political spectrum. He always spoke about peace. It's hard to think that he of all people was killed by the bullets of a Palestinian terrorist. He was very open politically." Fitussi added, "Dov embodied the media's era of innocence, when he used to sit with the social and economic reporters in Jerusalem's Cafe Ta'amon. Everybody knew then that an agreement between journalists was binding. The reporters always knew that even if Dov gave an exclusive to one of them, he would never deprive them and would give them a good story in the future."
The Kols met in tragic circumstances. Dov was widowed 20 years ago. His first wife, Hani, was Rachel's best friend. "Rachel looked after Hani devotedly until the day she died in 1985. After this tragedy Dov and Rachel drew gradually closer until in July 1986 they were married," said a friend of the couple. Together they raised Hani's daughter, Hila, and their two children, Tamar and Yonatan.
The couple's friends said that due to their conflicting political views they had become a symbol of moderation and tolerance. "They knew how to combine religion with openness, left with right." Dov, from a secular Tel-Aviv family and holding leftist views, respected the religious way of life and right-wing views of his wife and her family.
Dov Kol was buried alongside his wife Rachel in Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. He is survived by his daughters Hila, 24, and Tamar, 17, son Yehonatan, 15, and newborn granddaughter, Hallel, Hila's daughter.
Dov and Rachel had spent Shabbat with Rachel's sister in Ganei Tal where the whole family celebrated the recent birth of the Kols' first granddaughter, Hallel. They were returning home when the terrorists opened fire on the couple's car near the Gush Katif junction. Both were killed. Three others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Between 1976 and 1992 he worked in the NII and served as its spokesman for many years. Current NII spokesman Haim Fitussi described Kol as "a man of peace, who had Jewish and Arab friends from every part of the political spectrum. He always spoke about peace. It's hard to think that he of all people was killed by the bullets of a Palestinian terrorist. He was very open politically." Fitussi added, "Dov embodied the media's era of innocence, when he used to sit with the social and economic reporters in Jerusalem's Cafe Ta'amon. Everybody knew then that an agreement between journalists was binding. The reporters always knew that even if Dov gave an exclusive to one of them, he would never deprive them and would give them a good story in the future."
The Kols met in tragic circumstances. Dov was widowed 20 years ago. His first wife, Hani, was Rachel's best friend. "Rachel looked after Hani devotedly until the day she died in 1985. After this tragedy Dov and Rachel drew gradually closer until in July 1986 they were married," said a friend of the couple. Together they raised Hani's daughter, Hila, and their two children, Tamar and Yonatan.
The couple's friends said that due to their conflicting political views they had become a symbol of moderation and tolerance. "They knew how to combine religion with openness, left with right." Dov, from a secular Tel-Aviv family and holding leftist views, respected the religious way of life and right-wing views of his wife and her family.
Dov Kol was buried alongside his wife Rachel in Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. He is survived by his daughters Hila, 24, and Tamar, 17, son Yehonatan, 15, and newborn granddaughter, Hallel, Hila's daughter.
14 july 2005
Dana Galkowicz
Dana Galkowicz, 22, of Kibbutz Bror Hayil, was killed by a Qassam rocket fired at Moshav Netiv Ha'asara north of the Gaza Strip.
Dana Galkowicz, a communications student at the nearby Sapir College, returned to her boyfriend's home in Netiv Ha'asara early on Thursday evening because she was tired. She sat down on the porch when the rocket, launched from Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, exploded next to her. She was killed on the spot. Her friend, Amir Ragolsky, was lightly wounded. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah all claimed responsibility for the attack.
Dana was born in Kibbutz Bror Hayil about a year after her family immigrated to Israel from South America - her father, Natan, was born in Brazil and her mother, Perla, in Argentina. Dana completed high school in Sha'ar Hanegev and did her military service in the Border Police. After completing her military service she worked for the Jewish Agency and traveled in the U.S.
Dana met Amir about three years ago. They moved in together last year and were planning on getting married in the near future. Amir's mother, Pnina Ragolsky, said that they had been debating whether or not to live in Netiv Ha'asara, located directly north of the Gaza Strip, or in the kibbutz.
"She was charming, gentle and impressive," the director of Kibbutz Bror Hayil, Abraham Hirschfeld, said. Her friends said that she loved to dance, celebrated her 22nd birthday two weeks ago and in another two weeks was supposed to travel with Amir to India. "She was an amazing person, a genuine person, who had no masks," her friend Irit Rosenhak said. "She was one of the rare good-hearted people that I've met," Dana's friend Ofir Rappaport added.
Dana Galkowicz was buried at Kibbutz Bror Hayil. She is survived by her parents, Natan and Perla, her sister Sharon, 23, and her brother Orian, 18.
Dana Galkowicz, a communications student at the nearby Sapir College, returned to her boyfriend's home in Netiv Ha'asara early on Thursday evening because she was tired. She sat down on the porch when the rocket, launched from Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, exploded next to her. She was killed on the spot. Her friend, Amir Ragolsky, was lightly wounded. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah all claimed responsibility for the attack.
Dana was born in Kibbutz Bror Hayil about a year after her family immigrated to Israel from South America - her father, Natan, was born in Brazil and her mother, Perla, in Argentina. Dana completed high school in Sha'ar Hanegev and did her military service in the Border Police. After completing her military service she worked for the Jewish Agency and traveled in the U.S.
Dana met Amir about three years ago. They moved in together last year and were planning on getting married in the near future. Amir's mother, Pnina Ragolsky, said that they had been debating whether or not to live in Netiv Ha'asara, located directly north of the Gaza Strip, or in the kibbutz.
"She was charming, gentle and impressive," the director of Kibbutz Bror Hayil, Abraham Hirschfeld, said. Her friends said that she loved to dance, celebrated her 22nd birthday two weeks ago and in another two weeks was supposed to travel with Amir to India. "She was an amazing person, a genuine person, who had no masks," her friend Irit Rosenhak said. "She was one of the rare good-hearted people that I've met," Dana's friend Ofir Rappaport added.
Dana Galkowicz was buried at Kibbutz Bror Hayil. She is survived by her parents, Natan and Perla, her sister Sharon, 23, and her brother Orian, 18.
26 june 2005
Aviad Mansour
Aviad Mansour, 16, of Otniel died of wounds suffered in a drive-by terrorist shooting on June 24 at a hitchhiking stop about 200 meters from the entrance to Beit Hagai, south of Hebron.
Aviad Mansour, along with several other teenagers, was waiting for a lift at about 16:45 Friday afternoon at the hitchhiking stop near Beit Hagai. Aviad was on his way home to Otniel. Three or four terrorists riding in a car saw them standing at the hitchhiking station, and initially drove by before making a U-turn and heading back in their direction. As Amir Azulai and his wife from Beit Hagai stopped to offer the boys a lift, the terrorists opened fire. Avihai Levy was pronounced dead at the scene. Aviad Mansour, fatally wounded, died on June 26. Another teenager along with the Azulais was wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Judea Brigade Commander Colonel Moti Baruch said that the terrorists who carried the latest shooting attack took advantage of the recent easing of restrictions on Palestinian movement in the southern Mount Hebron area.
Aviad managed to call his parents after the attack and tell them what had happened, but took many shots to his lower body. Rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital where he underwent surgery, he succumbed to his wounds almost two days later.
The oldest of five children, Aviad was the son of Neria Mansour, a rabbi at the hesder yeshiva in Otniel. The Mansour home has in recent years served as a open house for bereaved families of terror victims.
Aviad had just completed tenth grade at the Susiya yeshiva high school. He was a counselor of the Bnei Akiva youth movement in Otniel. A local resident, Yehuda Glick, described him as warm and loving. On Wednesday Aviad went to Beersheba to buy a huge an anniversary cake for his parents, decorated with a picture of the family, and saying: "A remembrance from the children. Congratulations to Mom and Dad." The cake, which was to be eaten on Shabbat, remained untouched. Aviad had worked actively in recent weeks against the removal of settlements in Gush Katif and northern Samaria.
Aviad Mansour was buried in the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Neria and Eva, and four younger siblings - Yishai, Merom, Tal and Noam.
Aviad Mansour, along with several other teenagers, was waiting for a lift at about 16:45 Friday afternoon at the hitchhiking stop near Beit Hagai. Aviad was on his way home to Otniel. Three or four terrorists riding in a car saw them standing at the hitchhiking station, and initially drove by before making a U-turn and heading back in their direction. As Amir Azulai and his wife from Beit Hagai stopped to offer the boys a lift, the terrorists opened fire. Avihai Levy was pronounced dead at the scene. Aviad Mansour, fatally wounded, died on June 26. Another teenager along with the Azulais was wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Judea Brigade Commander Colonel Moti Baruch said that the terrorists who carried the latest shooting attack took advantage of the recent easing of restrictions on Palestinian movement in the southern Mount Hebron area.
Aviad managed to call his parents after the attack and tell them what had happened, but took many shots to his lower body. Rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital where he underwent surgery, he succumbed to his wounds almost two days later.
The oldest of five children, Aviad was the son of Neria Mansour, a rabbi at the hesder yeshiva in Otniel. The Mansour home has in recent years served as a open house for bereaved families of terror victims.
Aviad had just completed tenth grade at the Susiya yeshiva high school. He was a counselor of the Bnei Akiva youth movement in Otniel. A local resident, Yehuda Glick, described him as warm and loving. On Wednesday Aviad went to Beersheba to buy a huge an anniversary cake for his parents, decorated with a picture of the family, and saying: "A remembrance from the children. Congratulations to Mom and Dad." The cake, which was to be eaten on Shabbat, remained untouched. Aviad had worked actively in recent weeks against the removal of settlements in Gush Katif and northern Samaria.
Aviad Mansour was buried in the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Neria and Eva, and four younger siblings - Yishai, Merom, Tal and Noam.
24 june 2005
Avihai Levy
Avihai Levy, 17, of Beit Hagai was killed in a drive-by terrorist shooting at a hitchhiking stop about 200 meters from the entrance to Beit Hagai, south of Hebron.
Avihai Levy, along with several other teenagers, was waiting for a lift at about 16:45 Friday afternoon at the hitchhiking stop near Beit Hagai. Avihai was on his way to Beersheba, where he was a counselor of a Bnei Akiva youth group. Three or four terrorists riding in a car saw them standing at the hitchhiking station, and initially drove by before making a U-turn and heading back in their direction. As Amir Azulai and his wife, also from Beit Hagai, stopped to offer the boys a lift, the terrorists opened fire. Avihai was pronounced dead at the scene. Aviad Mansour, fatally wounded, died on June 26. Another teenager, along with the Azulais, was wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Judea Brigade Commander Colonel Moti Baruch said that the terrorists who carried the latest shooting attack took advantage of the recent easing of restrictions on Palestinian movement in the southern Mount Hebron area.
Avihai, who had lived in Bet Hagai with his family for many years, was a student at the Kiryat Arba High School yeshiva. His friend, Avner Lior, related that he was good at basketball and a computer whiz. He also practiced judo, and had won several medals in competition. Yair Lior, the spokesman for Beit Hagai, described him as a happy, friendly boy who was full of life.
Avihai Levy was buried in the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Yehiel and Hava, and four younger siblings aged 4 to 14: Elyasaf, Yahel, Liam and Ahinoam.
Avihai Levy, along with several other teenagers, was waiting for a lift at about 16:45 Friday afternoon at the hitchhiking stop near Beit Hagai. Avihai was on his way to Beersheba, where he was a counselor of a Bnei Akiva youth group. Three or four terrorists riding in a car saw them standing at the hitchhiking station, and initially drove by before making a U-turn and heading back in their direction. As Amir Azulai and his wife, also from Beit Hagai, stopped to offer the boys a lift, the terrorists opened fire. Avihai was pronounced dead at the scene. Aviad Mansour, fatally wounded, died on June 26. Another teenager, along with the Azulais, was wounded. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Judea Brigade Commander Colonel Moti Baruch said that the terrorists who carried the latest shooting attack took advantage of the recent easing of restrictions on Palestinian movement in the southern Mount Hebron area.
Avihai, who had lived in Bet Hagai with his family for many years, was a student at the Kiryat Arba High School yeshiva. His friend, Avner Lior, related that he was good at basketball and a computer whiz. He also practiced judo, and had won several medals in competition. Yair Lior, the spokesman for Beit Hagai, described him as a happy, friendly boy who was full of life.
Avihai Levy was buried in the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Jerusalem. He is survived by his parents, Yehiel and Hava, and four younger siblings aged 4 to 14: Elyasaf, Yahel, Liam and Ahinoam.
20 june 2005
Yevgeny Reider
Yevgeny Reider, 28, of Hermesh was killed and a 16-year old teenager was wounded in a terrorist shooting attack in the village of Baka A-Sharkiya in the northern West Bank.
Yevgeny Reider was driving to work from his home in Hermesh with Andrei Zaidan, his girlfriend's 16-year-old son, when gunmen opened fire, hitting Yevgeny in the forehead. The shots were fired from the roadside near homes in the village of Baka al-Sharkiyeh, a few hundred meters from the Green Line. Andrei succeeded in taking control of the car and reached within 100 meters of the checkpoint when the car caught fire, apparently due to a bullet that hit the gas tank. Andrei, who was lightly wounded, removed Yevgeny from the car and an IDF doctor pronounced him dead on the scene. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Andrei Zaidan related: "The terrorists blocked the road, and then four got out of a car and opened fire. Yevgeny protected me from the gunfire with his body." Andrei was working with Yevgeny preparing cement foundations for cellular transponders in the Elon Moreh area.
Reider was a temporary resident in Hermesh where he had been living with his partner, Tatiana Zaidan, for the past five years, following Tatiana's divorce. They had known each other for ten years, having originally met at work. The couple has an 18-month-old daughter. Tatiana has three children from her previous marriage.
Yevgeny Reider was buried in the alternative cemetery in Bat Hefer. He is survived by his parents, who live in Netanya, and sisters, as well as his common-law wife of the last five years, Tatiana Zaidan and their 18-month-old daughter Emily.
Yevgeny Reider was driving to work from his home in Hermesh with Andrei Zaidan, his girlfriend's 16-year-old son, when gunmen opened fire, hitting Yevgeny in the forehead. The shots were fired from the roadside near homes in the village of Baka al-Sharkiyeh, a few hundred meters from the Green Line. Andrei succeeded in taking control of the car and reached within 100 meters of the checkpoint when the car caught fire, apparently due to a bullet that hit the gas tank. Andrei, who was lightly wounded, removed Yevgeny from the car and an IDF doctor pronounced him dead on the scene. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Andrei Zaidan related: "The terrorists blocked the road, and then four got out of a car and opened fire. Yevgeny protected me from the gunfire with his body." Andrei was working with Yevgeny preparing cement foundations for cellular transponders in the Elon Moreh area.
Reider was a temporary resident in Hermesh where he had been living with his partner, Tatiana Zaidan, for the past five years, following Tatiana's divorce. They had known each other for ten years, having originally met at work. The couple has an 18-month-old daughter. Tatiana has three children from her previous marriage.
Yevgeny Reider was buried in the alternative cemetery in Bat Hefer. He is survived by his parents, who live in Netanya, and sisters, as well as his common-law wife of the last five years, Tatiana Zaidan and their 18-month-old daughter Emily.
19 june 2005
Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi
An IDF NCO, Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi, was killed as a result of a coordinated Palestinian attack in which RPG missiles and gunfire were fired at an IDF engineering force conducting construction work on the Israeli-Egyptian border.
At around 10:30 A.M., an Engineers Corps force was engaged in the construction of a wall on the outskirts of Rafah. The construction work has been accelerated of late, with the objective of providing protection to vehicles traveling along the Philadelphi Route and of making it more difficult to dig tunnels in the area.
Palestinian gunmen fired an anti-tank missile and opened fire at an IDF post, in order to distract the soldiers from another attack that was carried out simultaneously against an IDF force conducting construction work on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Three IDF soldiers were wounded by the fire. The IDF returned fire, hitting both gunmen; one was killed, and the second escaped. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi sustained serious wounds to his shoulder and back and died three hours later at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Avi, who was planning to marry his girlfriend Liran in August, was recently employed as a truck driver. Just two months ago, after being called up for reserve duty, he agreed to sign up as a career NCO in order to assist in completing the construction work along the Philadelphi Route, fulfilling his dream of an army career. "As a civilian he was one of the best crane operators, and agreed to work along the route," said Col. Eitan Yitzhak, the Southern Command's chief engineering officer. "He was aware of the danger but insisted on doing the job," he said.
Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi was buried in Beersheba. He is survived by his parents, Shoshana and Meir, his brother, Haviv, 21, and two sisters - Adi, 24, and Rahel, 15.
At around 10:30 A.M., an Engineers Corps force was engaged in the construction of a wall on the outskirts of Rafah. The construction work has been accelerated of late, with the objective of providing protection to vehicles traveling along the Philadelphi Route and of making it more difficult to dig tunnels in the area.
Palestinian gunmen fired an anti-tank missile and opened fire at an IDF post, in order to distract the soldiers from another attack that was carried out simultaneously against an IDF force conducting construction work on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Three IDF soldiers were wounded by the fire. The IDF returned fire, hitting both gunmen; one was killed, and the second escaped. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi sustained serious wounds to his shoulder and back and died three hours later at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Avi, who was planning to marry his girlfriend Liran in August, was recently employed as a truck driver. Just two months ago, after being called up for reserve duty, he agreed to sign up as a career NCO in order to assist in completing the construction work along the Philadelphi Route, fulfilling his dream of an army career. "As a civilian he was one of the best crane operators, and agreed to work along the route," said Col. Eitan Yitzhak, the Southern Command's chief engineering officer. "He was aware of the danger but insisted on doing the job," he said.
Sgt.-Maj. Avi Karouchi was buried in Beersheba. He is survived by his parents, Shoshana and Meir, his brother, Haviv, 21, and two sisters - Adi, 24, and Rahel, 15.
7 june 2005
Bi Shude
Bi Shude, 46, from Jilin province in northeastern China and two Palestinian workers were killed when a Qassam rocket hit a packing shed in Ganei Tal, in the Gaza Strip.
A Qassam rocket hit a packing shed belonging to Amnon Ditor, a resident who grows chives, in Ganei Tal, in the Gaza Strip, penetrating the building's roof and exploding indoors. Just before the attack, Amnon Ditur had gone home for lunch, leaving his workers seated at a metal table, sorting fresh chives into bundles bound with rubber bands.
A Chinese worker and a Palestinian died on the spot; another Palestinian worker died of his wounds later and five other Palestinian workers were injured. The two Palestinians killed have been identified as Salah Ayash Imran, 57, of Khan Yunis, married and the father of 8, and Muhammed Mahmoud Jaroun. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Bi Shude has worked in the Gaza Strip for a number of years, and his wife joined him in 2001, finding employment as a housekeeper.
The Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv arranged for Bi's body to be flown home for burial. He is survived by his wife, as well as his son, 21, and married daughter, 23, who live in Xixiang Village, Jiangdian Town, Tonghua.
A Qassam rocket hit a packing shed belonging to Amnon Ditor, a resident who grows chives, in Ganei Tal, in the Gaza Strip, penetrating the building's roof and exploding indoors. Just before the attack, Amnon Ditur had gone home for lunch, leaving his workers seated at a metal table, sorting fresh chives into bundles bound with rubber bands.
A Chinese worker and a Palestinian died on the spot; another Palestinian worker died of his wounds later and five other Palestinian workers were injured. The two Palestinians killed have been identified as Salah Ayash Imran, 57, of Khan Yunis, married and the father of 8, and Muhammed Mahmoud Jaroun. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Bi Shude has worked in the Gaza Strip for a number of years, and his wife joined him in 2001, finding employment as a housekeeper.
The Chinese Embassy in Tel Aviv arranged for Bi's body to be flown home for burial. He is survived by his wife, as well as his son, 21, and married daughter, 23, who live in Xixiang Village, Jiangdian Town, Tonghua.
2 may 2005
St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov
St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov, 21, of Nir Galim was killed and another soldier lightly wounded in an exchange of fire during an operation to arrest wanted terrorists from the Islamic Jihad in the village of Saida, north of Tulkarem.
Before dawn, IDF troops entered the area of Saida to arrest members of the Islamic Jihad terror cell that orchestrated the attack at Tel Aviv's Stage nightclub on February 25, 2005, in which five Israelis were killed. As an IDF force from the paratroop reconnaissance unit approached the area outside the village where two wanted terrorists were hiding, the terrorists opened fire. The IDF force returned fire. Senior Islamic Jihad member Shafiq Abd al-Ghani was killed and the second was captured six hours later at an army roadblock. St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov who was severely wounded, was rushed to hospital to receive medical treatment, and later died of his wounds. A second soldier was lightly wounded.
Dan was educated in Nir Galim, the religious moshav near Ashdod where he lived since the age of 10, and at nearby Kibbutz Yavneh. He liked playing his acoustic guitar, which he received as a bar mitzvah gift from his older brother Jan, a member of the Ashdod soccer team. "He was an amazing singer. At a younger age he also sang liturgical music at the moshav synagogue."
Dan spent last weekend at home, on a vacation cut short when he was recalled at the beginning of the week. "I understood he was being recalled because of terror alerts," Jan said. "I drove him to the train station, and that's where I saw him for the last time." Jan added, "He was raised on love of the land, enlisted in one of the most elite commando units in the IDF. He was well-built, a strong man, I'm certain he died a heroic death for this country. He was the sort of kid every family in this country would want. He was so beautiful, so suffused with faith and values, believed in the sanctity of the land."
A family friend talked about the strong ties between the Talasnikov brothers and their mother, brought closer by their father's tragic death by suicide when Dan was 4. "They always watched out for each other," he said. His mother's second husband Maxim became a father to him.
Dan was part of a close-knit foursome in Nir Galim. "We were the best of friends," said Yoav Roth, "always together - me, Dan, Golan Salvi, and Shai Bal. Dan loved playing guitar, loved playing, studied theater, he was an excellent mimic." His friends spoke of how Dan loved his army service, completing his training in hand-to-hand combat, anti-terror combat and more. "He was always at the center of the action," a friend said. "His greatest dream was to encounter terrorists. It's hard for me to say whether he died fulfilling his dream."
St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov was buried in Nir Galim. He is survived by his mother, Leah, his stepfather Maxim and four brothers.
Before dawn, IDF troops entered the area of Saida to arrest members of the Islamic Jihad terror cell that orchestrated the attack at Tel Aviv's Stage nightclub on February 25, 2005, in which five Israelis were killed. As an IDF force from the paratroop reconnaissance unit approached the area outside the village where two wanted terrorists were hiding, the terrorists opened fire. The IDF force returned fire. Senior Islamic Jihad member Shafiq Abd al-Ghani was killed and the second was captured six hours later at an army roadblock. St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov who was severely wounded, was rushed to hospital to receive medical treatment, and later died of his wounds. A second soldier was lightly wounded.
Dan was educated in Nir Galim, the religious moshav near Ashdod where he lived since the age of 10, and at nearby Kibbutz Yavneh. He liked playing his acoustic guitar, which he received as a bar mitzvah gift from his older brother Jan, a member of the Ashdod soccer team. "He was an amazing singer. At a younger age he also sang liturgical music at the moshav synagogue."
Dan spent last weekend at home, on a vacation cut short when he was recalled at the beginning of the week. "I understood he was being recalled because of terror alerts," Jan said. "I drove him to the train station, and that's where I saw him for the last time." Jan added, "He was raised on love of the land, enlisted in one of the most elite commando units in the IDF. He was well-built, a strong man, I'm certain he died a heroic death for this country. He was the sort of kid every family in this country would want. He was so beautiful, so suffused with faith and values, believed in the sanctity of the land."
A family friend talked about the strong ties between the Talasnikov brothers and their mother, brought closer by their father's tragic death by suicide when Dan was 4. "They always watched out for each other," he said. His mother's second husband Maxim became a father to him.
Dan was part of a close-knit foursome in Nir Galim. "We were the best of friends," said Yoav Roth, "always together - me, Dan, Golan Salvi, and Shai Bal. Dan loved playing guitar, loved playing, studied theater, he was an excellent mimic." His friends spoke of how Dan loved his army service, completing his training in hand-to-hand combat, anti-terror combat and more. "He was always at the center of the action," a friend said. "His greatest dream was to encounter terrorists. It's hard for me to say whether he died fulfilling his dream."
St.-Sgt. Dan Talasnikov was buried in Nir Galim. He is survived by his mother, Leah, his stepfather Maxim and four brothers.
21 jan 2005
Ayala-Haya (Ella) Abukasis
Ayala-Haya (Ella) Abukasis, 17, of Sderot died of wounds suffered on January 15 when a Qassam rocket landed near her and shrapnel penetrated her cerebellum, leaving her brain dead. Kept on life support throughout the week, her parents agreed to stop treatment when doctors told them there was no chance of recovery.
On Saturday afternoon (Jan 15), the Abukasis family was at Ella's grandmother's home celebrating the birthday of one of the granddaughters. From there she went with her younger brother Tamir to activities with Bnei Akiva. They were returning home when the siren sounded, giving them 20 seconds warning of an incoming Qassam rocket. They did not have time to take cover, so she shielded Tamir, who escaped with relatively minor wounds when the rocket fell and exploded alongside them, and she was fatally wounded.
Ella's father Yonatan said that she had acted like the guardian of her 10-year-old brother from the outset of the Qassam rocket attacks on Sderot. She accompanied him everywhere, slept alongside him, waited outside the bathroom for him and went with him to the computer on the second floor of the family's home.
Relatives stayed by her bedside, along with dozens of friends and well-wishers, praying and reading psalms for her recovery. Special prayer assemblies were held in Sderot and Jerusalem. The family changed Ella's name to Ayala-Haya in a traditional bid for divine mercy. However, doctors told the family there was no chance of recovery. On Friday morning, after the family consulted medical experts and rabbis, including Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the parents agreed to stop the treatment that was keeping her alive.
Ayala-Haya (Ella) Abukasis, who was laid to rest in Sderot, is survived by her parents, Yonatan and Sima, her brothers Ran and Tamir, and sister Keren.
Thousands attended the funeral, where her father read a note his daughter had penned shortly before her death: "Sometimes we tend to forget that life will be over one day, and we don't know when that day will come, and praise is always voiced too late, so in order for that not to happen, I've chosen to tell you what a wonderful person you are. Tell people that you love them and care about them."
On Saturday afternoon (Jan 15), the Abukasis family was at Ella's grandmother's home celebrating the birthday of one of the granddaughters. From there she went with her younger brother Tamir to activities with Bnei Akiva. They were returning home when the siren sounded, giving them 20 seconds warning of an incoming Qassam rocket. They did not have time to take cover, so she shielded Tamir, who escaped with relatively minor wounds when the rocket fell and exploded alongside them, and she was fatally wounded.
Ella's father Yonatan said that she had acted like the guardian of her 10-year-old brother from the outset of the Qassam rocket attacks on Sderot. She accompanied him everywhere, slept alongside him, waited outside the bathroom for him and went with him to the computer on the second floor of the family's home.
Relatives stayed by her bedside, along with dozens of friends and well-wishers, praying and reading psalms for her recovery. Special prayer assemblies were held in Sderot and Jerusalem. The family changed Ella's name to Ayala-Haya in a traditional bid for divine mercy. However, doctors told the family there was no chance of recovery. On Friday morning, after the family consulted medical experts and rabbis, including Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the parents agreed to stop the treatment that was keeping her alive.
Ayala-Haya (Ella) Abukasis, who was laid to rest in Sderot, is survived by her parents, Yonatan and Sima, her brothers Ran and Tamir, and sister Keren.
Thousands attended the funeral, where her father read a note his daughter had penned shortly before her death: "Sometimes we tend to forget that life will be over one day, and we don't know when that day will come, and praise is always voiced too late, so in order for that not to happen, I've chosen to tell you what a wonderful person you are. Tell people that you love them and care about them."
18 jan 2005
Oded Sharon
Oded Sharon, 36, of Gan Yavne, an Israel Security Agency officer, was killed in a suicide bombing attack at the Gush Katif junction in the central Gaza Strip. While search procedures were being implemented at a post by the crossing, the suicide bomber detonated himself.
The attack at the junction, the main intersection of north-south traffic in the Gaza Strip, occurred at around 6:45 PM, when the bomber was stopped for a security check at the checkpoint. The man was first superficially examined and then taken into a trailer used for more thorough body searches of suspects. The terrorist detonated the bomb, killing ISA officer Oded Sharon. In addition, an IDF officer was seriously wounded, and four IDF soldiers and three members of the ISA were lightly wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Oded and his wife Ranit grew up in Rishon Lezion. Oded studied with Dalit, Ranit's sister, at the Gymnasia Realit Secondary School in Rishon Letzion and in 1994, he married her sister. They moved to Gan Yavne about three years ago. Oded served in the IDF Engineering Corps. Before joining the Israel Security Agency about two years ago, he worked for the police and Internet Zahav. He was currently serving as an ISA field coordinator in the Gaza area.
"He was a wonderful father. He tried to spend as much time as he could with his children," said Oded's sister-in-law Bruria. "He was overjoyed when his son was born after two daughters," a neighbor added. One of his friends related, "He didn't tell us much about his work, but we understood that he contributed a lot to the country. We will probably never know about all he did."
Oded Sharon will be buried in Gan Yavne after his father and brother return from abroad. He is survived by his wife Ranit, two daughters - Yuval, 9, and Yarden, 6 - and a son, Daniel, almost 2, as well as his parents, Yona and Yaakov, and three siblings Dafna, Noam and Eyal.
The attack at the junction, the main intersection of north-south traffic in the Gaza Strip, occurred at around 6:45 PM, when the bomber was stopped for a security check at the checkpoint. The man was first superficially examined and then taken into a trailer used for more thorough body searches of suspects. The terrorist detonated the bomb, killing ISA officer Oded Sharon. In addition, an IDF officer was seriously wounded, and four IDF soldiers and three members of the ISA were lightly wounded. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Oded and his wife Ranit grew up in Rishon Lezion. Oded studied with Dalit, Ranit's sister, at the Gymnasia Realit Secondary School in Rishon Letzion and in 1994, he married her sister. They moved to Gan Yavne about three years ago. Oded served in the IDF Engineering Corps. Before joining the Israel Security Agency about two years ago, he worked for the police and Internet Zahav. He was currently serving as an ISA field coordinator in the Gaza area.
"He was a wonderful father. He tried to spend as much time as he could with his children," said Oded's sister-in-law Bruria. "He was overjoyed when his son was born after two daughters," a neighbor added. One of his friends related, "He didn't tell us much about his work, but we understood that he contributed a lot to the country. We will probably never know about all he did."
Oded Sharon will be buried in Gan Yavne after his father and brother return from abroad. He is survived by his wife Ranit, two daughters - Yuval, 9, and Yarden, 6 - and a son, Daniel, almost 2, as well as his parents, Yona and Yaakov, and three siblings Dafna, Noam and Eyal.
12 jan 2005
Gideon Rivlin
Gideon Rivlin, 50, of Ganei Tal was killed and three IDF soldiers were wounded when a bomb was detonated as a military vehicle patroled the route near Morag in the southern Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
On the morning of January 12, 2005, three IDF soldiers and an Israeli civilian, Gideon Rivlin, were patroling the greenhouses of the Israeli community of Morag in an IDF vehicle, in order to guard civil engineering works being done in the area. A terrorist cell infiltrated the area of the greenhouses after cutting the fence surrounding it and activated an explosive device at the patroling IDF vehicle, killing Rivlin, moderately wounding an IDF officer and lightly wounding two soldiers. After the device was detonated the terrorists opened fire. An IDF force arriving at the scene following the explosion identified one of the terrorists and opened fire, killing him. A second terrorist was killed in the course of searches in the area. Five explosive devices were discovered during the search, and were neutralized.
Gideon Rivlin, who has lived in Gush Katif since 1978, was employed by the Gaza Coast Regional Council, responsible for the construction of security fences in the area. He and his wife Simha settled in Gush Katif shortly after their marriage, living at first in a converted bus in Kfar Darom. While homes were being built in Ganei Tal, Gideon and the other families built greenhouses to grow flowers, which became his specialty. Later he devoted his efforts to building security fences, both in Gush Katif and in the Hebron area.
Gideon Rivlin was buried in the Gush Katif cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Simha, four sons and a daughter - Nir, Yaara, Omer, Assaf and Gilad.
On the morning of January 12, 2005, three IDF soldiers and an Israeli civilian, Gideon Rivlin, were patroling the greenhouses of the Israeli community of Morag in an IDF vehicle, in order to guard civil engineering works being done in the area. A terrorist cell infiltrated the area of the greenhouses after cutting the fence surrounding it and activated an explosive device at the patroling IDF vehicle, killing Rivlin, moderately wounding an IDF officer and lightly wounding two soldiers. After the device was detonated the terrorists opened fire. An IDF force arriving at the scene following the explosion identified one of the terrorists and opened fire, killing him. A second terrorist was killed in the course of searches in the area. Five explosive devices were discovered during the search, and were neutralized.
Gideon Rivlin, who has lived in Gush Katif since 1978, was employed by the Gaza Coast Regional Council, responsible for the construction of security fences in the area. He and his wife Simha settled in Gush Katif shortly after their marriage, living at first in a converted bus in Kfar Darom. While homes were being built in Ganei Tal, Gideon and the other families built greenhouses to grow flowers, which became his specialty. Later he devoted his efforts to building security fences, both in Gush Katif and in the Hebron area.
Gideon Rivlin was buried in the Gush Katif cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Simha, four sons and a daughter - Nir, Yaara, Omer, Assaf and Gilad.
11 jan 2005
Nissim Arbiv
Nissim Arbiv, 26, of Nissanit in the Gaza Strip died of wounds suffered in a mortar shell attack while working in the Erez Industrial Zone on January 2.
Nissim Arbiv was working at the Auto Boutique car repair shop, and was standing outside the building, when mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip exploded near him. Mortally wounded in the chest, he died nine days later. Two others were wounded in the attack, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.
Yossi Vaknin, secretary of the Nissanit community, relates: "Nissim came to Nissanit about three years ago. He was very good natured; he and his wife were a quiet couple, young people starting to build their lives."
Nissim Arbiv was buried in Ashkelon. He is survived by his wife, Mital, and their two and a half year old son, Shalev.
Nissim Arbiv was working at the Auto Boutique car repair shop, and was standing outside the building, when mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip exploded near him. Mortally wounded in the chest, he died nine days later. Two others were wounded in the attack, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.
Yossi Vaknin, secretary of the Nissanit community, relates: "Nissim came to Nissanit about three years ago. He was very good natured; he and his wife were a quiet couple, young people starting to build their lives."
Nissim Arbiv was buried in Ashkelon. He is survived by his wife, Mital, and their two and a half year old son, Shalev.
7 jan 2005
St.-Sgt. Yosef (Yossi) Atia
St.-Sgt. Yosef Atia, 21, of Petah Tikva, was killed and three other off-duty soldiers were wounded when their car was ambushed by Palestinian gunmen on the Trans-Samaria Highway on Friday afternoon. Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
St-Sgt. Yosef Atia and his three friends were on their way to spend Shabbat in Ma'aleh Efraim at a pre-military training academy they had attended before being drafted. Security officials said that more than 30 bullets had hit their car. Moments earlier, the terrorists had fired on another car, lightly wounding an Israeli civilian. 2nd Lt. Ariel Buda, who suffered serious wounds to the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on October 15.
Yossi had just celebrated his 21st birthday three days before. "He was such a handsome boy, with golden curls," his sister, Dikla, related. "The girls admired him - he was always smiling; a muscular, strong guy. He always told everyone that there was nothing to worry about and that he'd come home safely."
Atia studied in the Nehalim Yeshiva and then at the academy in Ma'aleh Efraim before joining the army. He had served as a medic for 18 months in a reconnaissance company of the Paratroopers Brigade, after completing the combat medics course with distinction.
St.-Sgt. Yosef Atia was buried at the Segula Military Cemetery in Petah Tikva. He is survived by his parents, David and Rahel, and siblings Idit, Galit, Victor, and Dikla.
St-Sgt. Yosef Atia and his three friends were on their way to spend Shabbat in Ma'aleh Efraim at a pre-military training academy they had attended before being drafted. Security officials said that more than 30 bullets had hit their car. Moments earlier, the terrorists had fired on another car, lightly wounding an Israeli civilian. 2nd Lt. Ariel Buda, who suffered serious wounds to the head and chest, succumbed to his injuries on October 15.
Yossi had just celebrated his 21st birthday three days before. "He was such a handsome boy, with golden curls," his sister, Dikla, related. "The girls admired him - he was always smiling; a muscular, strong guy. He always told everyone that there was nothing to worry about and that he'd come home safely."
Atia studied in the Nehalim Yeshiva and then at the academy in Ma'aleh Efraim before joining the army. He had served as a medic for 18 months in a reconnaissance company of the Paratroopers Brigade, after completing the combat medics course with distinction.
St.-Sgt. Yosef Atia was buried at the Segula Military Cemetery in Petah Tikva. He is survived by his parents, David and Rahel, and siblings Idit, Galit, Victor, and Dikla.
2 jan 2005
Vladimir Rubin
The body of Vladimir Rubin, 67, of Kiryat Gat, a security guard at the Bet Guvrin National Park, was found shot in the head at the park entrance.
Vladimir Rubin had worked for more than a year as the security guard for the bell caves site of the national park located near Kibbutz Bet Guvrin. Managers of the archaeological site said that Rubin's presence had ended the spate of thefts that had plagued the park. The site was guarded all night, according to Yigal Ben Ari, central district director at the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. He said that Rubin's job was to guard the park's office area, where a lot of expensive equipment is kept. "The need to guard the park arose following a spate of thefts and break-ins here in the past. In one case they stole a tractor, work tools and computers. In most cases the trail would lead to the village of Idna in the Hebron Hills," he said.
Ben Ari said that Rubin had been a supremely conscientious guard. He began his last shift at 6 P.M. on Saturday. Fifteen minutes later he spoke with the park director, and that was the last contact with him. Police still do not know at what time Rubin was shot. His wife, Ina, testified that she tried and failed to reach him during the evening. His body was found on Sunday morning in the trailer where he habitually sat. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Vladimir Rubin was buried in Kiryat Gat. He is survived by his wife Ina, their two sons, and a sister.
Vladimir Rubin had worked for more than a year as the security guard for the bell caves site of the national park located near Kibbutz Bet Guvrin. Managers of the archaeological site said that Rubin's presence had ended the spate of thefts that had plagued the park. The site was guarded all night, according to Yigal Ben Ari, central district director at the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. He said that Rubin's job was to guard the park's office area, where a lot of expensive equipment is kept. "The need to guard the park arose following a spate of thefts and break-ins here in the past. In one case they stole a tractor, work tools and computers. In most cases the trail would lead to the village of Idna in the Hebron Hills," he said.
Ben Ari said that Rubin had been a supremely conscientious guard. He began his last shift at 6 P.M. on Saturday. Fifteen minutes later he spoke with the park director, and that was the last contact with him. Police still do not know at what time Rubin was shot. His wife, Ina, testified that she tried and failed to reach him during the evening. His body was found on Sunday morning in the trailer where he habitually sat. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Vladimir Rubin was buried in Kiryat Gat. He is survived by his wife Ina, their two sons, and a sister.