Suicide bombing at Megiddo junction
June 5, 2002
Seventeen people were killed when a car packed with a large quantity of explosives struck Egged commuter bus No. 830 traveling from Tel-Aviv to Tiberias at the Megiddo junction near Afula.
The attack took place at about 7:15 in the morning. The force of the explosion lifted the bus into the air, and reduced the car carrying the bomb to charred metal. The car exploded near the fuel tank of the bus, causing it to burst into flames. Most of the casualties were off-duty soldiers on their way to their bases. The terrorist, who drove the car bomb, was killed in the blast. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
The names of 16 of the victims have been released:
* Cpl. Liron Avitan, 19, of Hadera;
* Cpl. Avraham Barzilai, 19, of Netanya;
* Cpl. Dennis Blumin, 20, of Hadera;
* St.-Sgt. Eliran Buskila, 21, of Hadera;
* St.-Sgt. Zvi Gelberd, 20 of Hadera;
* Sgt. Violetta Hizgayev, 20, of Hadera;
* St.-Sgt. Ganadi Issakov, 21, of Hadera;
* Sgt. Sariel Katz, 21, of Netanya;
* Cpl. Vladimir Morari, 19, of Hadera;
* Sgt. Yigal Nedipur, 22, of Netanya;
* Sgt. Dotan Reisel, 22, of Hadera;
* St.-Sgt. David Stanislavksy, 23, of Netanya;
* Sgt. Sivan Wiener, 19, of Holon;
* Zion Agmon, 50, of Hadera;
* Adi Dahan, 17, of Afula;
* Shimon Timsit, 35, of Tel-Aviv;
* The 17th victim, Eliyahu Timsit, 32, of Sderot, was identified in December 2002.
News reports:
17 Israelis killed in Megiddo junction blast - Ha'aretz, June 6, 2002
Suicide bomber kills 17 near Megiddo - Jerusalem Post, June 6, 2002
Wounded Egged driver dragged out victims - Jerusalem Post, June 6, 2002
International community condemns blast, urges peace talks - Ha'aretz, June 6, 2002