Sgt Efrat Schwartzman

Sept 9, 2003 - Sgt. Efrat Schwartzman, 19, of Moshav Ganei Yehuda 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.

Efrat Schwartzman grew up on Moshav Ganei Yehuda in central Israel. She was very active socially and served as a scouts counsellor. Efrat took her work as an instructor in the signal corps very seriously. She met Yoni Peleg a year ago at the base, and they fell in love. Efrat's parents organized rides for her to and from the army base in Tzrifin. On Tuesday, wanting to surprise her mother with a birthday gift, she left the base together with Yoni, for the first time hitching a ride. Yoni was killed instantly; Efrat died early the following morning.

In one of her last conversations with her family she spoke of her plans to travel to South American after completing her army service in four months time.

Sgt. Efrat Schwartzman was buried on Moshav Ganei Yehuda. She is survived by her parents, Yaakov and Rahel, and an 18-year-old brother, Yonatan.