Nir Lovatin

May 7, 2002 - Nir Lovatin, 31, of Rishon Lezion was one of 15 people killed when a suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge in a game club located on the 3rd floor of a building in Rishon Lezion, causing part of the building to collapse. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

At about 11:00 PM, the terrorist entered the unlicensed Sheffield Club with a suitcase of explosives, spiked with shrapnels and nails to cause maximum injury. The patrons were trying their luck at slot machines, card games or snooker. 15 were killed, and 55 wounded in the blast.

Nir Lovatin was born into a traditional family in Herzliya as the youngest child in the family. He and Narkis, who had been living together for seven years, were married four years ago. Nir owned a cleaning service and often met clients at the Sheffield Club, where he was killed. He was anxiously looking forward to the birth of their twins - a boy and a girl - in another four months. Narkis told her unborn twins, "He wanted you two so much; he waited a long time for you two. He was so happy.

Nir Lovatin was buried in Herzliya. He leaves behind his pregnant wife Narkis, his parents, brother and three sisters.