Miri Ohana

Feb 6, 2002 - Miri Ohana, 45, and her daughter Yael , 11, were murdered in their home when an armed terrorist infiltrated Moshav Hamra, halfway between Jericho and Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley on Wednesday evening, opening fire.

The gunman, wearing an IDF uniform, entered the moshav near the community's hothouses at around 6 PM, where he shot and killed IDF reserve soldier, St.-Sgt. Maj.(res.) Moshe Majos Meconen . The gunman continued to the Ohana family's home, taking them hostage. After the terrorist mortally wounded Miri and Yael Ohana with a series of gunshots, troops from armored reconnaissance battalion 500 broke into the home and killed him.

Miri immigrated to Israel from Spain more than 30 years ago, in the wake of her brother, Yossi. They lived in a youth immigration institution in the north. Miriam met her husband, Haviv, during her studies in Tel Aviv. After their marriage, the settled in the Hamra farming community in the Jordan Valley. Haviv worked in agriculture, while Miriam taught grammar at schools in the Beit She'an area.

Yael, the youngest of their four children, was born disabled and demanded constant treatment. Her mother was forced to leave her job and dedicate herself to raising her young daughter. At the time of the attack, Miri was at home with Yael. Her husband Haviv, who grew and marketed flowers, had gone shopping in Bet-She'an.

Ahuva Katz, a close friend of the Ohana family, described Miri as a slightly built, intelligent, and happy woman. "We often attended plays in Beit She'an or in Tel Aviv at the Habimah. She spoke several languages and was such a sweet person," she said.

Miri Ohana is survived by her husband and three children - Michal, 24, an economics student; Oded, 21, a soldier; and Yonatan, 16. She was buried alongside Yael in the Yarkon cemetery in Petah Tikva.