Netta Blatt-Sorek was born at Kibbutz Afikim on July 10, 1957, the daughter of Dina and Amos Blatt. The family later lived in Beersheva and Rishon Lezion. Netta finished high school in Gedera, completed her army service, and then traveled to Sweden before settling for the next 17 years in New York, where she completed her BA at Hunter College. During her stay in the US, Netta became an American citizen. Although intending to continue for a doctorate, Netta decided to return to Israel after her grandfather's death, falling in love simultaneously with Zichron Yaakov and with Amotz Sorek. She returned to Israel, married, worked as a teacher, and studied drama therapy. Her passions became storytelling festivals and advocating for peace between Israelis and Arabs. Netta dedicated her life to building a bridge between Israel and her neighbors by finding common ground for dialogue. She taught at an Arab-Israeli school and took an active role in creating communities of Israelis and Palestinians.
In February 2010, Netta left home for a five-day vacation at the monastery of Beit Jamal near Beit Shemesh, which she had visited before. The monks reported her missing after she failed to return from an afternoon walk. After her body was found, the initial police report called her death a suicide but that was subsequently changed to murder. The investigation a year later into the attack on Kristine Luken and Kay Wilson led police to charge a member of a terror cell with the murder of Luken and with Netta's murder as well. She is survived by her parents, her husband, and a daughter Noga, and a brother Eran.
