In a recent TV interview, released Hamas terrorist Ahlam Tamimi recounted the joy expressed among the Palestinian public in the wake of the suicide bombing that she had facilitated. Tamimi, who was sentenced to 16 life terms in prison following her role in the 2001 suicide attack on the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem, was released in October 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
In the interview, broadcast on Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV on July 12, 2012, Tamimi said that as she sat on the bus following the attack, the passengers were rejoicing at the rising toll being reported on the radio.
For a previous TV interview with Ahlam Tamimi following her release, click here.
To view the July 12, 2012 interview, click here. The following are excerpts:
"The Results Amazed Everybody"
Ahlam Tamimi: "16 Zionists were killed [in the suicide bombing you helped carry out]."
Interviewer: "Was the sound of the explosion...?"
Ahlam Tamimi: "It was very loud. The mujahid Abdallah Barghouti did a perfect job producing the guitar [containing the bomb], and the results amazed everybody, thanks to Allah. [...]
"Afterwards, when I took the bus, the Palestinians around Damascus Gate [in Jerusalem] were all smiling. You could sense that everybody was happy. When I got on the bus, nobody knew that it was me who had led [the suicide bomber to the target]... I was feeling quite strange, because I had left [the bomber] 'Izz Al-Din behind, but inside the bus, they were all congratulating one another. They didn't even know one another, yet they were exchanging greetings." [...]
As the Toll Rose, "I Wanted to Hide My Smile, But Just Couldn't"
Ahlam Tamimi: "While I was sitting on the bus, the driver turned on the radio. But first, let me tell you about the gradual rise in the number of casualties. While I was on the bus and everybody was congratulating one another, they said on the radio that there had been a martyrdom attack at the Sbarro restaurant, and that three people were killed. I admit that I was a bit disappointed, because I had hoped for a larger toll. Yet when they said 'three dead,' I said: 'Allah be praised.'"
Interviewer: "Was it an Israeli radio station or a Palestinian one?"
Ahlam Tamimi: "That station was in the Zionist language, and the driver was translating for the passengers." [...]
"As The Number Of Dead Kept Increasing, The Passengers Were Applauding"
Ahlam Tamimi: "Two minutes later, they said on the radio that the number had increased to five. I wanted to hide my smile, but I just couldn't. Allah be praised, it was great. As the number of dead kept increasing, the passengers were applauding. They didn't even know that I was among them.
"On the way back [to Ramallah], we passed a Palestinian police checkpoint, and the policemen were laughing. One of them stuck his head in and said: 'Congratulations to us all.' Everybody was happy." [...]
