Over 60 people were originally reported wounded, and 30 now remain in the hospital, including one in very critical condition and five who sustained serious wounds. Police report that the bomb contained some ten kilograms of explosives, as well as a large quantity of metal pieces designed to increase the devastation of the blast.
The Maxim Restaurant has been in operation for over 40 years, and is considered one of the most popular eateries in Haifa. George Matar, a Christian-Arab who owns the restaurant together with his wife Ilham and the Jewish couple Shabtai and Miri Tayar, was telling his wife that the restaurant was packed and that it looked like it would be a happy and successful day - when suddenly their phone call was cut off by the explosion. Matar was seriously wounded. "Everyone knows everyone, and we're like one big family," said Orli Nir, the Tayars' daughter. "If certain people don't show up on Saturday morning, we call up to find out what's wrong."
The guard at the crowded restaurant was apparently not armed, and witnesses later said that the terrorist walked into the middle of the restaurant and there blew herself up. The murderer told her sister beforehand that if she hears of an attack in Israel, she should pass out candies to celebrate, and that it would be in revenge for the killing by Israeli forces of her [the murderer's] brother and cousin/fiancee. Jenin, the city from where the terrorist set out, was placed under curfew last night, and IDF forces destroyed her home early this morning.
This was the second major attack in less than two months perpetrated by a highly-educated Palestinian terrorist. In August, a 29-year-old Moslem religious leader (imam) and teacher carried out a massacre against Jews when he blew himself up aboard a Jerusalem bus, murdering 23 people.
The Maxim Restaurant has been in operation for over 40 years, and is considered one of the most popular eateries in Haifa. George Matar, a Christian-Arab who owns the restaurant together with his wife Ilham and the Jewish couple Shabtai and Miri Tayar, was telling his wife that the restaurant was packed and that it looked like it would be a happy and successful day - when suddenly their phone call was cut off by the explosion. Matar was seriously wounded. "Everyone knows everyone, and we're like one big family," said Orli Nir, the Tayars' daughter. "If certain people don't show up on Saturday morning, we call up to find out what's wrong."
The guard at the crowded restaurant was apparently not armed, and witnesses later said that the terrorist walked into the middle of the restaurant and there blew herself up. The murderer told her sister beforehand that if she hears of an attack in Israel, she should pass out candies to celebrate, and that it would be in revenge for the killing by Israeli forces of her [the murderer's] brother and cousin/fiancee. Jenin, the city from where the terrorist set out, was placed under curfew last night, and IDF forces destroyed her home early this morning.
This was the second major attack in less than two months perpetrated by a highly-educated Palestinian terrorist. In August, a 29-year-old Moslem religious leader (imam) and teacher carried out a massacre against Jews when he blew himself up aboard a Jerusalem bus, murdering 23 people.