1st Sgt. (res.) Avner Yaskov

Apr 9, 2002 - 1st Sgt. (res.) Avner Yaskov, 34, of Be'er Sheva 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).

1st Sgt. Avner Yaskov was born in Caucasus. He immigrated to Israel at age 7 and lived in Be'er Sheva with his mother and sister. He studied at Kibbutz Hama'apil and served in the Givati Brigade. After completing his compulsory service in the IDF, he traveled abroad.

Avner studied engineering and industrial management at the technical college in Be'er Sheba. He worked at Kadma, a pharmaceutical company in nearby Kibbutz Beit Kama.

Avner married Penina two years ago and the couple has been living with Avner's widowed mother. Recently, Avner and Penina bought an apartment in Be'er Sheva into which they were planning to move in June. The evening before Avner was killed, P'nina phoned him to announce that she was pregnant with their second child.

Avner was called to reserves eleven days before he was killed. "He believed in the justice of this war, only didn't understand why we didn't go to war earlier to prevent the deadly sights of the suicide bombers. I remember his big smile as he walked out the door. That's how I will always remember him," said his wife.

1st Sgt. Avner Yaskov was buried in the military cemetery in Be'er Sheva. He is survived by his mother Michal, sister Helena wife Penina, and 4-month old daughter also named Michal.