Lt. (res.) Eyal Yoel

Apr 9, 2002 - Lt. (res.) Eyal Yoel, 28, of Ramat Rachel 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).

Lt. (res.) Eyal Yoel was born in Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, of which his grandparents were founders. He served as an officer in the Paratroop Brigade during his compulsory service. Three years ago, he married Lilach who he had met many years earlier when he was her counselor in the Noar Ha'Oved youth movement in Rishon Le'Zion.

Eyal was in his fourth year of studies at the Ben-Gurion University where he was learning chemical engineering and made the Dean's List twice. His wife is a sociology student and the couple lived n the student dorms.

Lt. (res.) Eyal Yoel was buried in Ramat Rachel. He is survived by his wife Lilach, parents Yehiel and Mania, brothers Ori, Ilan, Hagi and Nir, and sister Nurit.