Megiddo Junction bus bombing

The Megiddo Junction bus bombing was the suicide bombing of an Egged bus at Megiddo Junction in northern Israel on June 5, 2002. 17 people were killed and 43 wounded, the majority of them IDF soldiers.

Megiddo Junction bus bombing
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign
The attack site
Location	Israel
Coordinates	32°34′22″N 35°11′31″E
Date	June 5, 2002 7:15 am (GMT+2)
Attack type	suicide bombing
Deaths	13 Israeli soldiers and four civilians (+ 1 bomber)
Injured	43 Israelis (mostly soldiers)
Perpetrators	Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility

The memorial built near the site of the attack in memory of the victims of the incident

The Palestinian Islamist militant organization Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack

On Wednesday, 5 June 2002, a Palestinian suicide bomber drove a Renault van loaded with dozens of kilograms of explosives to Highway 65. At Megiddo Junction, he approached Egged bus no. 830, filled with passengers, traveling from Tel Aviv to Tiberias. At 7:15 am, the bomber detonated the explosive device near the fuel tank of the bus, causing it to burst into flames.[1] According to a member of the rescue crew, people were thrown out of the bus by the force of the bomb and rescuers could not board the vehicle immediately due to the extreme heat.[2]

The blast killed 13 Israeli soldiers and four civilians.[3] 43 passengers were injured, most of them soldiers.[4]

Fatalities

Cpl. Liron Avitan, 19, of Hadera[5] Cpl. Avraham Barzilai, 19, of Netanya[6] Cpl. Dennis Blumin, 20, of Hadera[7] St.-Sgt. Eliran Buskila, 21, of Hadera[8] St.-Sgt. Zvi Gelberd, 20, of Hadera[9] Sgt. Violetta Hizgayev, 20, of Hadera[10] St.-Sgt. Ganadi Issakov, 21, of Hadera[11] Sgt. Sariel Katz, 21, of Netanya[12] Cpl. Vladimir Morari, 19, of Hadera[13]

Sgt. Yigal Nedipur, 22, of Netanya[14] Sgt. Dotan Reisel, 22, of Hadera[15] St.-Sgt. David Stanislavksy, 23, of Netanya[16] Sgt. Sivan Wiener, 19, of Holon[17] Zion Agmon, 50, of Hadera[18] Adi Dahan, 17, of Afula[19] Shimon Timsit, 35, of Tel-Aviv[20] Eliyahu Timsit, 32, of Sderot – identified in December 2002[21]

Perpetrators and retaliation

After the attack the Palestinian Islamist militant organization Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the attack was carried out by an 18-year-old Palestinian named Hamza Samudi who originated from Jenin and had taken driving lessons four days before the attack, especially for this mission. In response, Israeli forces put Yasser Arafat under siege in his Ramallah compound once again.[22]

References

1. Suicide bombing at Megiddo junction
2. "Israel bus attack kills 17". BBC News. June 5, 2002.
3. James Bennet (June 8, 2002). "In Israeli Bed, Failed Bomber Tells of 'Love of Martyrdom'". The New York Times.
4. Suicide bombing at Megiddo junction - 5-Jun-2002 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
5. Cpl Liron Avitan
6. Cpl Avraham Barzilai
7. Cpl Dennis Blumin
8. St-Sgt Eliran Buskila
9. St-Sgt Zvi Gelberd
10. Sgt Violetta Hizgayev
11. St-Sgt Ganadi Issakov
12. Sgt Sariel Katz
13. Cpl Vladimir Morari
14. Sergeant Yigal Nedipur, 22 - Haaretz
15. Sgt Dotan Reisel
16. St-Sgt David Stanislavksy
17. Sgt Sivan Wiener
18. Zion Agmon
19. Adi Dahan
20. Shimon Timsit
21. Eliyahu Timsit
22. Israelis leave Arafat compound after raid. CNN, 6 June 2002

External links

• Suicide bombing at Megiddo junction - 5-Jun-2002 - published at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Israel bus attack kills 17 - BBC News, June 5, 2002
• Bomb Kills 17 Israeli Bus Passengers - Fox News, June 5, 2002
• Israel enters Jenin after suicide blast - BBC News June 5, 2002
• The Armageddon bomb - The Economist June 5, 2002