Sgt. Sariel Katz

Jun 5, 2002 - Sgt. Sariel Katz, 21, of Netanya, was one of 17 people killed when a car packed with a large quantity of explosives struck Egged 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 gasoline tank of the bus, causing it to burst into flames. Most of the casualties were soldiers who were on their way to their bases. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sgt. Sariel Katz would return home every day, due to the ill health of his parents, and return to the base in the morning. He was killed in the blast.

Sariel's commanding officer described him as one of the best soldiers he ever saw. He studied at the ORT Yad Leibowitz school in Netanya, majoring in computers and electronics. He was active in the Young Maccabi youth movement and volunteered to help the movement when he was on leave from the army. He wanted to be an army officer.

Sgt. Sariel Katz was buried in the military cemetery in Netanya. He is survived by his parents, Haim and Miriam.