Michal Franklin

June 19, 2002 - Michal Franklin, 22, of Jerusalem, was one of seven people killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus stop and hitchhiking post at the French Hill intersection in northern Jerusalem shortly after 7:00 P.M.

The bomber jumped out of a car at the French Hill junction and, as Border Patrolmen on duty at the scene began to approach him, he ran past them toward the crowded bus stop on the eastern side of the road, setting off the bomb he was carrying in a crowd of people. Three Israelis and four others died in hospital. About 50 were wounded by shrapnel that was packed around the explosive, with several in critical and serious condition, including one of the Border Patrolmen who had tried to stop the bomber.

Michal Franklin grew up in the Jewish quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, the eldest in a family of six. Her parents had immigrated to Israel from South Africa. Michal attended the Zviya Ulpana high school and did her national service in Tiberias, working with disadvantaged children. She had a beautiful voice and loved to play the guitar. She was the niece of Israel's ambassador to South Africa, Tova Herzl.

On the day she was killed, Michal had just completed her courses for a B.A. in educational counseling and history at the Orot College in Elkana - completing the degree in just three instead of four years. She woke up in the morning, excited about finishing her studies, and said, "What a wonderful day."

Michal, who was on her way to a celebratory dinner with her parents, saw her friend and fellow student, Hadassah Jungreis, at the hithhiking stand at the French Hill junction, and stopped to talk to her. Both were killed.

Michal Franklin was buried in Jerusalem. She is survived by her parents, Avner and Sarah, and five siblings.