Yaffa Georgia Mualem

June 11, 2003 - Yaffa Georgia Mualem, 65, of Jerusalem was one of 17 people killed in a suicide bombing on bus No. 14A on Jaffa Road in the center of Jerusalem.

At around 17:30, the bomber, dressed as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, boarded Egged bus No. 14A at the Mahane Yehuda market, and a short while later, as the bus drove down Jaffa Road near the Davidka Square, detonated his bomb, wrecking the bus and killing 16 of its passengers. Over 100 people were wounded, including dozens of passersby. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Yaffa Mualem immigrated to Israel from Iraq in 1952. She was killed on her way home from shopping at the Mahane Yehuda market. Yaffa's husband of 42 years, Ya'acov, described his wife as a devoted wife and grandmother. She was a wonderful cook, especially of Iraqi dishes, and she kept the home spotless. Yaffa was very sensitive to events, and would sit and cry after every terrorist attack.

Yaffa Mualem was buried in Jerusalem. She is survived by her husband, Ya'acov, three sons - Ezra, Naim and Oren - and four grandchildren.