Vitaly Brodsky

Aug 31, 2004 - Vitaly Brodsky, 52, of Beersheba was one of 16 people killed in twin suicide bus bombings in Beersheba city buses. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

The two explosions took place within minutes of each other on two Beersheba city buses, on route nos. 6 and 12, shortly before 3:00 P.M. The buses were traveling along Beersheba's main street, Rager Blvd, near the city hall. About 100 people were also wounded.

Vitaly Brodsky, a construction worker, immigrated to Israel ten years ago from Birobijan, in Russia. Four years ago, he met Nargiza Ostrovsky, who had come to Israel to join her daughters in Ofakim. The couple lived together in Beersheba.

Ostrovsky, who was Christian, waited for years to receive her Israeli citizenship. Vitaly took the day off to accompany her to the Ministry of the Interior in Beersheba to receive her new identity card. They then went to the bank and did some shopping, and boarded bus no. 6 to go home and celebrate the happy occasion. Both were killed.

Brodsky's uncle Maxim said, "He had golden hands and a golden heart. He had a sense of humor and was always ready to help people with a smile on his face."

Vitaly Brodsky will be buried in the Menuha Nekhona Cemetery in Beersheba. He is survived by two sons from a previous marriage.