Netanya bomber Lutfi Amin abu-Salem
Photo: Channel 2
Terrorist's mother (center)
Photo: AP
Terrorist’s family: We never saw it coming
Relatives of Netanya bomber receive news of attack with disbelief; nothing in his actions this morning pointed to possibility he would take his own life, family members say
Lutfi Amin abu-Salem of the West Bank village of Rai, near Jenin, had a warm breakfast in the early morning hours before setting off to the concrete factory around 6:00 am.
Several hours later he blew himself up in Netanya, killing 5 innocent Israelis and injuring more than 50 others.
Suicide bomber's mother grieves (Photo: AP)
In the little West Bank village, abu-Salem’s family received the news of his action with disbelief. Nothing in his actions this morning pointed to a man set to take away his own life and the lives of others, family members said. Although uneducated, Lutfi’s family insists their son was content with his job at a factory owned by relatives, noting that they never suspected his belonging to a terror organization.
'Attack was heroic'
Hearing their son’s name identified on the radio as the suicide bomber who carried out the attack on behalf of the Islamic Jihad did little to purge the family’s disbelief.
It was upon watching images of their son carrying a rifle and heralding his mission in a final statement recorded by the Islamic Jihad and broadcast on Palestinian television that the family burst in tears.
No one knew Lutfi has enlisted to the ranks of Islamic Jihad who set him up on a suicidal terror mission.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, voicing its opposition to harming innocent civilians.
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said the attack harms the interests of the Palestinian people. Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator, called on Palestinian groups “not to play into the hands of Israel and be drawn by its provocations.”
Meanwhile Zakaria Zubeidi, wanted member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, praised Islamic Jihad’s “heroic” act, warning the Palestinian Authority not to crack down on Islamic Jihad members.
“Whoever condemns this attack should protect the Palestinian people from the occupation forces spread in our towns and villages. The Islamic Jihad today defended the legitimate right of our people to oppose the occupation and react to the terror crimes of the Israelis,” Zubeidi said.
