Friday, May 07, 2004
Survivor of Palestinian Suicide Bomber, Ethiopian Immigrant
BBC News Photo journal: Bomb attack survivor
Excerpts:
One of 10 children, Elad came to Israel in 1985 as part of a programme known as Operation Moses that made it possible for African Jews to emigrate to Israel.
"Representatives of the Jewish Agency came to our tiny village and told us how to get to Israel. This was a dream, is a dream, for all Jews. We were told we could get a flight to Israel from Sudan. We walked from our village in Ethiopia to Sudan. This took nearly a year and many people died on the way. I was seven at the time and I remember my brothers carrying me most of the way."
"In Ethiopia, we lived in a village with Muslims. It was peaceful and safe and we helped each other because we were all poor in the same way. I learnt about the hate between Muslims and Jews in Israel.
...
"I remember a man standing two metres from me. My mobile phone rang, so I went to answer it, and I heard a massive explosion. ...
I had nails and shrapnel in my arms and upper body. My spine was cut, low in my back."
Gradually, he recovered use of his arms. Only now, nearly two years after the attack, is he trying to stand with the help of physiotherapy.
The bombing also had its psychological effects.
"One minute I am happy, and the next I am angry. I can't explain why this happens. I try to be happy because some people lose their life in bombings. I am one of the lucky ones."
"Your entire life can change in a second. In Israel you never know… you live with this all the time. I go out as much as I can but I am often afraid and jumpy. It happened near my home, so it can happen anywhere.
"What would I do with revenge? Revenge belongs only to God. If the bomber was still alive, I would want him dead – but revenge is for the mafia. I don't want innocents to die. If I took a life, how would I sleep?"
BBC News Photo journal: Bomb attack survivor
Excerpts:
One of 10 children, Elad came to Israel in 1985 as part of a programme known as Operation Moses that made it possible for African Jews to emigrate to Israel.
"Representatives of the Jewish Agency came to our tiny village and told us how to get to Israel. This was a dream, is a dream, for all Jews. We were told we could get a flight to Israel from Sudan. We walked from our village in Ethiopia to Sudan. This took nearly a year and many people died on the way. I was seven at the time and I remember my brothers carrying me most of the way."
"In Ethiopia, we lived in a village with Muslims. It was peaceful and safe and we helped each other because we were all poor in the same way. I learnt about the hate between Muslims and Jews in Israel.
...
"I remember a man standing two metres from me. My mobile phone rang, so I went to answer it, and I heard a massive explosion. ...
I had nails and shrapnel in my arms and upper body. My spine was cut, low in my back."
Gradually, he recovered use of his arms. Only now, nearly two years after the attack, is he trying to stand with the help of physiotherapy.
The bombing also had its psychological effects.
"One minute I am happy, and the next I am angry. I can't explain why this happens. I try to be happy because some people lose their life in bombings. I am one of the lucky ones."
"Your entire life can change in a second. In Israel you never know… you live with this all the time. I go out as much as I can but I am often afraid and jumpy. It happened near my home, so it can happen anywhere.
"What would I do with revenge? Revenge belongs only to God. If the bomber was still alive, I would want him dead – but revenge is for the mafia. I don't want innocents to die. If I took a life, how would I sleep?"
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