Explosion in Jerusalem’s Subaro Pizzeria

On August 9, 2001, a devastating explosion rocked the Israeli capital, leveling the busy Subaro Pizzeria.

Among the 16 casualties, seven were children. One of them was my daughter, Marki, just 15 years old, who was simply waiting to place her lunch order.

For over ten years now, the US has struggled to extradite certain jihadists facing trials. It’s been frustrating, to say the least.

Ahram Tamimi, a Jordanian national, was released from Israeli custody in 2011 as part of a larger deal involving Hamas. Since then, she’s led a somewhat celebrity-like existence in Jordan.

However, there’s still a hope for justice for the Americans who were murdered.

Think about Tamimi’s situation. She was a journalism student and even became the first woman to publicly acknowledge her connection to Hamas at just 21. It’s striking how she chose a fast-food location for her operation.

In a troubling interview, she claimed that the attack targeted the pizzeria because of its proximity to Jewish children attending a nearby religious school.

Her Hamas handlers had equipped her with a human bomb—a young man who carried explosives hidden in a guitar case. She brought him to the café’s entrance, where he detonated his bomb, claiming countless lives, including my daughter’s.

Tamimi confessed to her role in Israeli courts and received a lengthy sentence, but, in 2011, she was among 1,027 convicted terrorists released in a controversial agreement for the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas.

Upon her return to Jordan, she was celebrated.

Tamimi even hosted a weekly talk show on Al-Quds TV, promoting extremist views for five years. This led to her gaining a significant following in the Arab world. Yet, very few Americans were aware of her story, as major US news outlets largely ignored it.

In 2017, the US Department of Justice began pressing for her extradition, citing the treaty with Jordan. Yet, just that week, Jordan’s courts dismissed the extradition request.

The State Department expressed some regret over Jordan’s ruling, indicating the extradition treaty should be upheld. However, Jordan continues to protect Tamimi while receiving substantial financial aid from the US.

It feels like a betrayal to the American victims.

While Jordan plays a complex game with the US, maintaining a facade of cooperation, it continues to shield Tamimi.

My wife, Frimmet, and I have been tirelessly seeking justice. We’ve done everything from media outreach to petitions that gained 30,000 signatures. Sadly, we’ve often encountered indifference from officials.

Tamimi seems to mock our plight. She once mentioned in an interview that Jordan’s protection gives her strength, and, frankly, she has a point. For years, US taxpayer money has indirectly supported the people who carried out these heinous acts.

It’s time for President Trump to take decisive action, demanding that Jordan comply with the treaty and hand over Tamimi.

This would send a strong message: there are consequences for breaching bilateral agreements.

Jordan relies heavily on the US and can’t afford to disregard an assertive US administration.

Extraditing Tamimi would showcase Trump’s commitment to prioritizing American lives.

Justice also calls for Middle Eastern leaders to reaffirm their respect for the United States, particularly for victims like Marki and others who’ve fallen to terrorist violence.

Arnold Ross, a retired lawyer engaged in advocating for children with special needs, and his wife, Frimmet, founded a foundation to honor their daughter’s memory.