Linoy Saroussi

Oct 29, 2002 - Linoy Saroussi, 14, of Hermesh, was one of three people shot dead by a Palestinian terrorist who infiltrated the settlement north of Tulkarm in Samaria at about 10:30 p.m.

The terrorist first fired into the Eshel house, mortally wounding wife Orna and moderately wounding her husband, Yuval, before shooting Linoy and her best friend, Hadas Turgeman, also 14, as they were chatting at the entrance to Linoy's house. The attacker was killed by soldiers and local residents. A soldier and a resident were wounded in the assault.

"Linoy and Hadas were wonderful girls ... who contributed much to the settlement and to all of us," Hermesh resident Avi Hachmon said. "Our two flowers have been cut down.

The Saroussi family had come to Hermesh from Tel-Aviv eight years ago. Linoy's parents had wanted to leave the settlement, but Linoy told her father, Kobi: 'If you want to leave, then do -- I'm staying.'" Kobi said that his daughter was born on a special date -- 8.8.88 -- and loved to help children. She was a second mother to her younger sister and recently fought to open a club for the young people in Hermesh.

"These two girls were just blossoming," Omer High School principal Edna Dan-Gur said. "They loved school and loved their friends. They were very close."

Linoy Saroussi was buried at the Yarkon Cemetery. She is survived by her parents, Anat and Kobi, a brother Shani (10), and sister Eden (4).