Meital Katav

March 5, 2003 - Meital Katav, 20, of Haifa, was one of 17 people killed in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus on Moriah Boulevard in the Carmel section of Haifa.

The bus was traveling on the city's main Moriah Boulevard near the Carmel Center, on the way to Haifa University, when the blast turned the bus into a charred wreck and scattered bodies along the road. The suicide bomber, who had boarded the bus, had the bomb strapped to his body, laden with metal shrapnel in order to maximize the number of injuries. A total of 17 people were killed and 53 injured.

Meital Katav completed her compulsory military service on the Lebanese border a month ago and a half ago, and had begun working as a gas station attendant on Mount Carmel.

Meital had phoned her sister, Vered, to tell her she had just got on the No. 37 bus for home, when the call was cut off by the explosion. Her brother-in-law said that Meital had loved his small children and was very close to them.

"She was a sweet girl with a lovely smile," said her aunt.

Meital Katav was buried in Haifa. She is survived by her parents and four older siblings.