Avi Kotzer

Jan 5, 2003 - Avi Kotzer, 43, of Bat Yam, was one of 23 people killed when two suicide bombers blew themselves up on a pedestrian mall in Tel Aviv's Naveh Sha'anan neighborhood near the old central bus station.

Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack, which apparently was assisted by Islamic Jihad.

Avi Kotzer, a computer programmer, had stopped at the old bus station to shop on his way home from work when he was killed.

Born in Azerbaijan, Kotzer immigrated from the Soviet Union in 1989 with his mother and younger brother and was the family breadwinner. Relatives related that he had received many job offers abroad, but loved Israel and did not want to leave. He was the author of a Caucasian-Hebrew dictionary.

"Everyone loved Avi," said Haim Shaked, a fellow worker at IBM. "He was very quiet, but exceptionally devoted and never quarreled with anyone. Everything he did, he did quietly and calmly."

Kotzer was due to be married to a young woman from Canada. They had planned to announce their engagement in a few weeks upon her arrival in Israel.

Avi Kotzer was buried in the Holon Cemetery. He is survived by his mother and younger brother.