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Three generations killed in 'slaughter of families'
October 6, 2003
A
suicide bombing in Haifa on the eve of Yom Kippur - dubbed the
"slaughter of families" - killed three generations of two families.
A total of 19 people, as well as the bomber, were killed in
Saturday's attack in a restaurant in Haifa, which for long has been
considered as a model of peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs.
Among the victims were five members of the Zev Aviv family, from the
nearby Yagour kibbutz, who had travelled to the city for a shopping
expedition, ahead of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day
in the Jewish calendar.
Brouria Zev Aviv was expected to be buried with her son, Betselel,
his wife, Keren, and their two children, four-year-old Liran and
14-month-old Noya on Tuesday.
Hillel Leviatan, a member of the kibbutz, said the community would
try to rally around to care for the surviving family members.
"This is a source of deep pain for the kibbutz," he told Israeli radio.
"It's a very hard blow. We will do our utmost for the rest of the family to help them mentally.
"Even if we are not able to correct the consequences of this monstrous act, we will do what we can."
Other victims included four members of the Almog family: Zeve Almog,
71; his wife, Ruth, 70; his son, Moshe, 43; and his nine-year-old
grandson, Tomer.
The Islamic Jihad bomber, a 29-year-old female apprentice lawyer
whose brother and cousin had been killed by the Israeli army in June,
struck about 2.15pm (22.15pm AEST) on Saturday, when the restaurant was
packed with families.
Maxim restaurant has been co-owned by Jewish and Arab families for
about 40 years, in a city that has a large Arab-Israeli population.
Orli Nir, daughter of one of the of the founders, said that the restaurant had been a regular haunt for many of the victims.
"For years, we have been one large family, Arabs and Jews," she told the Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
"When we heard about the terror attack, I ran to the restaurant, and
my mother, Miri Tayar, hurried to the hospital to see what was
happening with those who were wounded, to be with the Matar family [the
Arab co-owners].
"I know many of the people who were killed and wounded. We have many regular customers. Everyone knows everyone else."
Roni Levy, the coach of the leading Israeli football team, Maccabi
Haifa, and two other club members were slightly injured in the attack.
Mr Levy, club director Itamar Chizik, and technical director Arie Borenstein were treated in hospital but later released.
"We were going to our table in the restaurant, where the members of
the club usually go, when the explosion took place," Mr Chizik told
Israeli television. "It was a scene that will be difficult to forget."
AFP
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