Natanel Kochavi

Mar 9, 2002 - Natanel Kochavi, 31, of Kiryat Ata was one of 11 people killed when a suicide bomber exploded at 22:30 PM Saturday night in a crowded cafe at the corner of Aza and Ben-Maimon streets in the Rehavia neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem.

The bomber walked into the Cafe Moment, located about 100 meters from the prime minister's residence, and detonated a powerful explosive charge that completely gutted the restaurant. The cafe was teeming with dozens of people at the time of the attack. Natanel Kochavi was one of 11 people killed and 54 injured in the explosion.

Natanel Kochavi lived in Katamon, in Jerusalem. According to friends and family, Cafe Moment was his favorite place to hang out.

After studying at the Nativ Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Natanel served in the IDF Golani Brigade. Natanel would volunteer for reserve duty every month. After his army service he studied law and computers at Bar Ilan University. He was under a lot of pressure to finish his internship in law. In the past, he was the head of the Students Association at the university.

"My brother knew when to be tough and when to be gentle. On one hand, if the Arabs would make trouble he knew how to be tough with them, and he would say, 'Look, there is no difference.' He would walk with me in the Old City of Jerusalem and would point out an Arab beggar woman and he would give her money. 'There is no connection - you can feel sorry for her. There is a difference between her and those who commit terror attacks," said Assaf.

Natanel Kochavi was buried in Kiryat Ata. He is survived by his parents and six siblings.