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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

Father of child murdered in Sbarro bombing slams Jordan, demands terrorist extradited - interview

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources In the courts
  • Arnold Roth, father of a Sbarro bombing victim, criticized Jordan for harboring Ahlam Tamimi, a key figure in the 2001 attack.
  • Roth accused Jordan of materially supporting terrorism, likening its actions to the Palestinian Authority's "pay-for-slay" stipends.
  • He urged the "civilized world" and international bodies to pressure Jordan to extradite Tamimi, who is wanted by the U.S. and on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Arnold Roth, whose daughter Malka was killed in the 2001 Sbarro massacre, has strongly condemned Jordan for providing refuge to Ahlam Tamimi, the mastermind behind the Jerusalem bombing. Roth accused the Hashemite Kingdom of materially supporting terrorism, drawing parallels with the Palestinian Authority's practice of providing "pay-for-slay" stipends.

The woman who masterminded the Sbarro massacre is free today in Jordan, living free all these years. She was charged in the United States in 2013, and she's been saved, protected, and harbored by Jordan.

— Arnold RothArnold Roth describes the situation of Ahlam Tamimi, the perpetrator of the Sbarro bombing, who resides in Jordan.

Tamimi, who was responsible for orchestrating the suicide bombing that killed 16 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, was released to Jordan in a 2011 prisoner exchange. Despite a 1995 extradition treaty with the United States, which charged Tamimi in 2013, Jordan has refused to hand her over. Roth dismissed Jordan's explanations for this refusal as "ridiculous, convoluted excuses."

No one believes this. I speak with authority as someone who's lived with this for many years. No one believes it. And yet, Jordan keeps getting away with it. Jordan is getting away with it today, tonight, and every day and every night for many years.

— Arnold RothArnold Roth expresses his disbelief and frustration with Jordan's continued refusal to extradite Ahlam Tamimi.

"No one believes this," Roth stated, expressing frustration that Jordan continues to evade accountability. Malka Roth was one of three U.S. nationals killed in the attack. Tamimi remains on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list, with a reward of up to $5 million offered for information leading to her arrest or conviction.

I don't blame the Jordanians any more than I blame the Palestinian Authority for getting away with whatever they can get away with. That's the nature of crooks and thieves and confidence tricksters.

— Arnold RothArnold Roth equates Jordan's actions regarding Tamimi to those of criminal entities.

Roth directed his criticism not only at Jordan but also at the "civilized world" and international bodies for their perceived inaction. He specifically called out Jewish leadership for its lack of effort in pursuing justice for Tamimi. Roth believes that governments and international organizations bear significant blame for failing to act against countries that harbor terrorists.

The problem is, where is the civilized world? And in the case of "pay for slay," and in the case of Ahlam Tamimi, who lives free as a bird, as a c

— Arnold RothArnold Roth questions the inaction of the international community regarding terrorism and the harboring of wanted individuals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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