July 15, 2003 - Amir Simhon, 24, of Bat Yam was killed when a Palestinian armed with a long-bladed knife stabbed passersby on Tel Aviv´s beachfront promenade.

The terrorist arrived at the Tarabin restaurant in Jaffa at around 1:30 A.M. where he stabbed and wounded the security guard. The attacker then fled along the seaside promenade, where Amir Simhon was walking with his girlfriend of several months. When the terrorist tried to stab her, Amir protected her with his body and she was unharmed. He himself was stabbed and died of his wounds in hospital. The terrorist, who was shot and apprehended, is a member of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Amir, the eldest in his family, grew up in Bat Yam and began serve as a volunteer in the Civil Guard in 1995. During his three-year service as a Border Policeman in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, he continued to volunteer with his friends in the Civil Guard when he was home on leave. About half a year ago, he was promoted to the uniformed Matmid unit. Amir was also employed in the Tel Aviv municipal patrol, and just a week ago he received a commendation for pursuing and apprehending a thief on the Tel Aviv promenade. Amir´s father said, "For three years in fought in the territories, and in the end he was killed on the Tel Aviv promenade."

Amir Simhon is survived by his parents, Moshe and Herzliya, three brothers and two sisters. (IMRA.ORG.IL 07/15/03)