Sgt.-Maj. Roni Ghanem

Aug 4, 2002 - Sgt.-Maj. Roni Ghanem, 28, of Maghar, was one of 9 people killed in the suicide bombing of Egged bus No. 361 traveling from Haifa to Safed at the Meron junction in northern Israel.

Egged bus No. 361 left Haifa for Safed at 7:15 Sunday morning. The terrorist, who had boarded the bus, exploded the bomb at the Meron junction near Safed just before 9:00. The blast blew off the roof of the bus, which then burst into flames, killing or wounding nearly everyone inside.

Sgt.-Maj. Roni Ghanem, of the Druze village of Maghar, was killed while on his way to his base on the northern border.

A star player on his local soccer team, Ghanem had served as a combat soldier in a Druze unit. Early this year he joined the regular army and was soon to begin an officers course. He married his wife, Rita, in May.

"Roni was a superlative soldier, devoted to his troops, trustworthy, and professional," said his former commanding officer. During his compulsory service Ghanem served with distinction on the Lebanese border, in the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank.

Sgt.-Maj. Roni Ghanem was buried in the military section of the Maghar cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Rita, father, Kamel, mother, Afifa, four brothers, and two sisters.