St.-Sgt. Idan Suzin

February 6, 2003 - St.-Sgt. Idan Suzin, 21, of Kiryat Tivon, was one of two soldiers killed in a clash with terrorists at a paratroop outpost on Mount Gerizim overlooking Nablus.

The firefight took place at around midnight, when two terrorists sent by Fatah's Tanzim militia and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine infiltrated the perimeter of the temporary base. The outpost, situated in a one-story building that formerly housed a dance hall, was exposed to fire on all sides by large windows. When the terrorists approached, intending to fire and throw grenades at the soldiers inside, they were surprised by a departing patrol and opened fire from point blank range.

Suzin, who was sleeping in an inner room, was wakened by the gunfire and jumped up to respond, when he was shot in the chest and mortally wounded. One of the terrorists was killed by return fire. Lt. Amir Ben-Aryeh, the commander of the outpost, climbed to the roof of the building and exchanged fire with the remaining terrorist. During the firefight Ben-Aryeh was shot in the head and killed. The second terrorist was killed soon after. Two other soldiers were moderately and lightly wounded.

Suzin was a graduate of the Kiryat Tivon High School, where he concentrated on geography and political science. He was an outstanding athlete and excelled at karate. He volunteered for the paratroops and trained as a sniper.

"He was a charming, beloved boy," related a friend, "and unusually shy." Due to complete his compulsory service in another four months, Suzin was planning a long trip abroad.

Suzin was killed on the first anniversary of the death of his best friend, St.-Sgt. Lee Nahman Akunis, 20, of Holon, who was shot and killed by Al-Aksa Brigade gunmen at a roadblock near Ramallah. On the day of his death, Suzin had planned to attend a memorial service for his friend. "Akunis's death affected him deeply," a relative said. "It was a very bad year for him."