Avinoam Alfia

Apr 10, 2002 - Avinoam Alfia, 26, of Kiryat Ata was one of eight people killed in a suicide bombing on Egged bus #960, en route from Haifa to Jerusalem, which exploded near Kibbutz Yagur, east of Haifa.

The express route bus had left the new Haifa Bay bus station at 7:00 AM. The suicide bomber, from the Jenin refugee camp, boarded the bus wearing IDF fatigues and carrying an army conscript bag in order to avoid drawing attention. Just after passing the Yagur junction, he detonated his explosives belt, killing 8 and wounding 22.

Avinoam Alfia's father had taken him early in the morning to the Central Bay bus terminal north of Haifa because Avinoam wanted to get to the Jerusalem yeshiva at which he was studying in time for the morning prayers. Avinoam was killed in the blast.

After completing the Yavne religious public school in Kiryat Ata, Avinoam attended the Hespin high school yeshiva on the Golan Heights. He completed his army service in the Golani Brigade, and for the past two years has been studying at the Har Hamor yeshiva in Jerusalem. His aunt, Gina Ganiel, said, "He was modest and never once said it out loud, but I think he wanted to be a rabbi."

Avinoam Alfia was buried in Kiryat Ata. He is survived by his parents, Naomi and Natan, and his brother, Sagi.