The government has decided to transfer the bodies of 91 terrorists to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) in the hope the move will boost the PA leader’s popularity since Israel views him as a viable peace partner, as opposed to Hamas and the other terrorists. The move is being dubbed another “good-will gesture to the PA”.

It appears the handover will occur later this week as the IDF Rabbinate began the task of exhuming the bodies last week in preparation for the operation. Among the bodies being returned are the terrorists responsible for heinous attack such as Café Hillel and Savoy Hotel.

On March 4, 1975, at 23:00 eight terrorists in two teams landed by boat on the Tel Aviv beach at the foot of Allenby Street. Shooting and throwing grenades, they took over the Savoy Hotel near the center of the city. The guests were taken hostage. The Palestinians threatened that if Israel did not release 20 terrorists within four hours the hostages would be executed.

Early the next morning Sayeret Matkal stormed the hotel killing seven of the terrorists and capturing one. Five hostages were freed while eight were killed. Three soldiers, including former Sayeret Matkal commander Uzi Yairi, were also killed.

On September 9, 2003, a suicide bomber entered the Café Hillel on Emek Refaim Street in the German Colony neighborhood of the capital blowing himself up.  Seven people were killed and over 50 injured. Among the dead were Rabbi Dr. David Applebaum HY”D and his daughter Nava HY”D. the rabbi was having coffee with his daughter the night before her chasnah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)