Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Amit Busidan

Apr 9, 2002 - Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Amit Busidan, 22, of Bat Yam 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.) Amit Busidan was the oldest of three children. He served in the Givati Brigade and completed his compulsory service eight months ago. Since then, he applied to law school and has been working as a security guard in Oranim School in Or Yehuda.

Amit was called to the reserves two weeks ago at 11 p.m. and didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to his parents. Since being called up, he spoke with them by cell phone briefly, just enough to reassure them and to say that he is laying tefillin and praying each morning. His last message was sent via his girlfriend Orit two days before he was killed. He asked her to "tell my parents I'm OK, and that I love them very much."

Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Amit Busidan was buried in the military cemetery in Holon. He leaves behind his parents Geula and Ithak, a brother and a sister.