1st Sgt Yaron Pikholtz

Nov 29, 2001 - 1st Sgt. Yaron Pikholtz, 20, of Ramat Gan, was killed in a drive-by shooting incident on the Green Line, near the West Bank village of Baka el-Sharkiya.

Yaron Pikholtz was killed and another soldier wounded by shots fired by Palestinians riding in a car with Israeli license plates as they stood at a roadblock in Baka el-Sharkiya, north of Tulkarem, inspecting vehicles. Yaron was fatally wounded by three bullets and lost a large amount of blood. He died in a helicopter as he was being airlifted to Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera.

Pikholtz was due to be released from service in the combat engineering corps in a few months. His commanding officer related that the soldiers followed Yaron blindly. He was known for his deep social involvement, and his leadership.

Yaron attended Tichon Hadash high school in Ramat Gan, where he majored in art, studying drawing and computer graphics. The school principal related: "The skies today are getting today an angel, a bright star - the editor of the school newspaper, a loyal fried to his classmates, the first to volunteer for every task. You will remain in our hearts forever."

Yaron's cousin said, "You were like a big brother to me. When you became 18, you suddenly became serious."

Yaron Pikholtz was buried at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv. He is survived by his parents and two sisters.