Alexei Kotman

Mar 12, 2002 - Alexei Kotman, 29, of Kibbutz Beit Hashita was one of six Israelis killed when two terrorists opened fire from an ambush on Israeli vehicles traveling between Shlomi and Kibbutz Metzuba near the northern border with Lebanon.

The two gunmen, dressed in IDF uniforms and armed with Kalashnikov and M-16 rifles and grenades, hid in undergrowth at the side of the road and opened fire on vehicles heading toward Kibbutz Metzuba around 12.30 P.M. Israeli forces killed the two gunmen and carried out wide-scale searches for additional terrorists. Six Israelis were killed and 7 wounded in the attack. Alexei Kotman was killed by gunfire in the ambush while driving his truck.

Alexei immigrated to Israel with his family from Russia about two years ago. They have lived on Kibbutz Beit Hashita since their arrival, but planned to move to Petah Tikva, where they have friends. Alexei worked as a truck driver for an Afula-based transport company.

David Rahmani, Alexei's employer said: "He always got to work on time, and he tried fulfilling every assignment the best he could. He drove a Scania truck, and was carrying material from the Kibbutz Cabri quarry to Kibbutz Hanita."

Alexei Kotman was buried in his home town in Russia. He is survived by his parents who remained in Russia, his wife, Helena who is expecting a baby, and his 3-year-old daughter, Yana.