Senior Warrant Officer Haim Alfasi

Sept 9, 2003 - Senior Warrant Officer Haim Alfasi, 39, of Haifa was one of nine IDF soldiers killed in a suicide bombing at a hitchhiking post for soldiers outside a main entrance to the Tzrifin army base and Assaf Harofeh Hospital. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bomber wore civilian clothes and carried a leather bag containing a 3-4 kilogram bomb. He got out of a car at the hitchhiking post, and almost immediately blew himself up, killing eight and wounding 30. The ninth victim died of her wounds on November 19. The ninth victim died of her wounds on November 19.

Senior Warrant Officer Haim Alfasi, who would have celebrated his 40th birthday next week, was born in Kiryat Gat. In 1989 he married his wife, Orly, and three years ago the family moved to Haifa. Alfasi, an instructor in the Signal Corps at the Tzrifin army base, would take the train every morning from Haifa, and then catch a lift to the base. He was killed on his way home.

Haim's brother-in-law Ronen describes him as a family man, a loving husband and father. He was famous among family and friends for the fish dinners he would prepare, as well as for his golden hands - he could fix anything in the house.

Senior Warrant Officer Haim Alfasi was buried in the Haifa military cemetery. He is survived by his wife Orly, and their three children: Ran (12), Nir (9) and Oz (3).