Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri

Apr 9, 2002 - Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri, 27, of Ramat Gan was one of thirteen IDF soldiers killed and seven injured in the Jenin refugee camp by Palestinian terrorists. An IDF patrol of reserve soldiers was ambushed in a narrow alleyway in the camp by a number of explosive devices and gunfire from the rooftops of surrounding buildings (Operation Defensive Shield).

Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri was in the Givati Brigade. After his release in 1995, he traveled to South America for three years. He recently completed studies in computer programming and was seeking a job. He was called to reserve duty after the Passover seder. When his mother asked him not to go, he answered, "If I don't go, who will fight and contribute to the State?"

Eyal's brother said, "the day before he was killed, mother asked him if he was serving in Jenin. 'What do you mean, Jenin?' he told her. He didn't want to worry anybody." Eyal's sister will be returning from overseas to attend the funeral on Friday.

Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Eyal Eliyahu Azouri was buried in the Kfar Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv. He leaves behind his parents Simha and Shlomo, brother Haim 28 and sister Rosalie.