The Bombing of Hebrew University's Frank Sinatra Cafeteria: July 31st, 2002

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq..
Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center..
31 July '12..

Ten years ago today, on July 31st, 2002, Palestinian terrorists planted a devastating bomb in Hebrew University's Frank Sinatra Cafeteria. Numerous students and faculty were murdered in the attack, including several Americans. The attack was perpetrated by terrorists who had received funding, resources and safe haven from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Although the bomb maker, the arch-terrorist Abdullah Barghouti, was being hunted by Israel, he was hidden in a safe house by PA officials after they had released him from jail. The PA continued to assist Barghouti to remain free.

We brought suit against the PA and PLO for their role in aiding and abetting the Hebrew University cafeteria bombing. This month, we sought to take the deposition of Abdullah Barghouti who is serving multiple life sentences in an Israeli prison. After cursing at the other lawyers and myself, Barghouti refused to answer our questions, even after we had the Jerusalem Court order him to testify. Nonetheless, we decided to press on with the case against the Palestinian Authority and the PLO without Barghouti's testimony.

Ten years after this heinous bombing, we still remember the victims and the Palestinian Authority's role in their tragic murders. We will continue to seek justice for the bombing's families and to hold the PA accountable, even as the United States continues to provide the latter with foreign aid.

These are the names of those who were murdered: David Ladowski; Levina Shapira; Marla Bennett, Benjamin Blutstein; Dina Carter; Janis Coulter; David Gritz; Daphna Spruch; Revital Barashi. An additional one hundred were wounded in the attack, including many Israelis, Americans and South Koreans.

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