St.-Sgt. Haim Bachar

Feb 28, 2002 - IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Haim Bachar, 20, of Tel-Aviv was killed during clashes with Palestinians in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus.

IDF forces entered the camp early Thursday morning to search for wanted terrorists. Bachar, a paratrooper, was killed in the preliminary stages of the operation. An explosive charge was thrown at him as he entered an alley, and he was then killed by a shot to the head.

Haim Bachar graduated from the Herzliya high school in Tel-Aviv. He enlisted in the air force, but later transferred to an elite paratroop unit. His friends described him as one who loved his friends, the army and his country. His commanding officer said at his funeral: "You proved what we always knew - that you were an exemplary soldier and friend."

St.-Sgt. Haim Bachar was buried in the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel-Aviv. He is survived by his parents and younger brother.