Ilan Perlman

Nov 21, 2002 - Ilan Perlman, 8, of Jerusalem, was one of 11 people killed in a suicide bombing on a No. 20 Egged bus in the Kiryat Menahem neighborhood of Jerusalem.

The bomber, wearing a five-kilogram bomb belt packed with explosives and shrapnel, boarded the bus at approximately 7:00 A.M. on Mexico street in Kiryat Menahem. Before it reached the next stop, the terrorist, who was standing in the front section of the bus, set off the bomb, killing 11 people and wounding about 50.

The Perlman family had immigrated to Israel from the Ukraine. Kira Perlman, who accompanied her grandson Ilan everywhere, was taking him to school when they were killed on the bus together.

Ilan lived in Jerusalem's Ir Ganim neighborhood with his mother Galia, his older brother Sinai, his grandmother and greatgrandmother. His parents are divorced.

Ilan, though shy, was an excellent student and was highly motivated. Half a year ago he won a gold medal in a national martial arts competition and was declared national champion for his age group.