Sgt Omri Goldin

Aug 4, 2002 - Sgt. Omri Goldin, 20, of Mitzpe Aviv, was one of 9 people killed in the suicide bombing of Egged bus No. 361 traveling from Haifa to Safed at the Meron junction in northern Israel.

Egged bus No. 361 left Haifa for Safed at 7:15 Sunday morning. The terrorist, who had boarded the bus, exploded the bomb at the Meron junction near Safed just before 9:00. The blast blew off the roof of the bus, which then burst into flames, killing or wounding nearly everyone inside.

Sgt. Omri Goldin was returning to his base at Northern Command headquarters when he was slain with eight others on bus No. 361. Sitting beside him was his girlfriend, Aviv, who was seriously wounded in the attack.

Born in Petah Tikva, Omri grew up in Yavne and moved with his family to the Galilee two years ago. He was drafted 16 months ago and served with distinction in the Northern Command. A talented musician, Omri played in a rock band.

Sgt. Omri Goldin was buried in the Misgav cemetery. He is survived by his father, Amiram, the founder of a Jewish-Arab regional school in Misgav, his mother, and two brothers, Ran, 28, a captain in the regular army, and Itai, 26.