Ion Nicolae

Jan 5, 2003 Ion Nicolae, 34, of Romania 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.

Ion Nicolae had gone shopping in the area of the old central bus station with his friend, Mihai Sabau, also from Romania. Both were killed in the explosion.

Ion, from the city of Ploiesti in Romania, was trained as a blacksmith. After working in a factory and under army contract, he had come to Israel in September 2000 to earn more money. He planned to save up enough to return home and buy an apartment. Ion found work in construction, and a year ago brought his wife Mariana to Israel, who worked as a caretaker for the elderly. Married since 1993, they had no children.

Both Ion Nicolae and Mihai Sabau were flown home for burial in Romania after a memorial ceremony at the Greek Orthodox church in Jaffa. Nicolae is survived by his wife, Mariana, and mother, Elena.