(AP/MSNBC) - Ever since a suicide bomber exploded near him in May, putting him in a coma for three weeks, Haitham Hamoud, an Arab citizen of Israel, has found himself crossing the street at the sight of Palestinian strangers from the West Bank or Gaza heading his way. On Saturday, four Israeli Arabs were among 20 people killed when a suicide bomber in Haifa attacked a beachfront restaurant co-owned by Arabs and Jews. In an earlier incident, after Yousef, an Arab from east Jerusalem and not an Israeli citizen, was seriously wounded in a Palestinian attack, his brother told an Israeli TV station that the attack was terrorism. Many of their Palestinian neighbors took exception and shunned the family; others made threats. ''Some people suggested I was a collaborator,'' said Yousef. To be accused of collaborating with Israeli authorities can be tantamount to a death sentence.
2003-10-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive