Israeli victims of the Bulgaria bomb attack identified

Israel buried its five citizens who became victims of the bomb attack against the tourist bus at the Burgas airport on July 18, 2012.

The bodies of the five victims arrived in Israel in the late night on July 19 at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv via military aircraft. The five coffins were covered with the Israeli national flag and taken off the plane with military honors.

Family members and relatives of the bomb blast victims gathered at the airport, officially confirming who the victims were:

• Amir Menashe, 28
• Itzik Kolengi, 28 
• Maor Harush, 24
• Elior Price, 25
• Kochava Shriki, 44

The 28-year old Itzik Kolengi was buried in the town of Petach Tikva, located in the east of Tel Aviv. His wife Gilat was heavily injured and learned about her husbands death in the morning of Friday, July 20. Her condition was still very serious so the doctors did not allow her to go to her husband’s funeral.

Amir Menashe, also 28, was childhood’s friend of Itzik Kolengi. He was also buried in the town of Petach Tikva.

The 44-year old Kochava Shriki, who was pregnant with her first child, was buried in the city of Rishon Le Zion, south of Tel Aviv. Her child was never born which makes it the eighth victim of the attack along with the Bulgarian driver of the bus and the suicide bomber himself. In the hours following the explosion, Itzik Shriki, who was lightly injured in the attack, searched for his wife until the terrible truth of her fate became clear. She was taken to a hospital in Sofia, without him being told.

Itzik Shriki, the grieving husband and father:

25-year old Maor Harush was buried in the town of Akra, where 26-year old Elior Price will be also laid to rest later.

There isn’t much to do or say but mourn today. My condolences to the families of the victims, and as a Bulgarian, I am truly, truly sorry you had to go through this terrible ordeal in my country. All the victims, rest in peace…