Sgt. David Gordukal

Sept 16, 2001 - Sgt. David Gordukal, 23, of Upper Nazareth, was killed in the exchange of fire in the south of Ramallah, during which five senior Palestinian terrorists were arrested and a number of Palestinian positions and a Force 17 camp were attacked.

David Gordukal, an only child, immigrated to Israel with his parents from the Ukraine several years ago. His parents subsequently were divorced, and his father had returned to the Ukraine.

Following his compulsory army service, David had chosen to enlist in the regular army, and served in the Ramallah area. The IDF action in Ramallah in which he was killed was designed to thwart planned terrorist attacks in Jerusalem on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Sgt. David Gordukal was buried in Upper Nazareth. He is survived by his parents and grandmother, with whom he had been living in Bat Yam.