1997 Mahane Yehuda Market bombings

On Wednesday, 30 July 1997 at 1:15 pm, two Palestinian suicide bombers who carried bags laden with explosives and nails detonated their explosive devices 45 meters (150 feet) apart almost simultaneously in a central alley in the popular outdoor market, killing 16 civilians, among them an Arab resident of Eilabun, and injuring 178 people, many of them teenagers and tourists.[2]

Thirteen Israelis were killed immediately and three others died later from their injuries. The Mahane Yehuda attack was followed by a triple suicide bombing on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall in downtown Jerusalem on 4 September, which killed five Israelis and wounded over 190.[3]

The following people died in the attack:[4][5]

• Lev Desyatnik, 60, of Jerusalem[6]
• Regina Giber, 76, of Jerusalem[7]
• Valentina Kovalenko, 67, of Jerusalem[8]
• Shmuel Malka, 44, of Mevaseret Zion[9]
• David Nasco, 44, of Mevaseret Zion[10]
• Muhi A-din Othman, 33, of Eilabun[11]
• Simha Fremd, 92, of Jerusalem[12]
• Gregory Paskhovitz, 15, of Jerusalem[13]
• Leah Stern, 50, of Jerusalem[14]
• Rachel Tejgatrio, 83, of Jerusalem[15]
• Liliya Zelezniak, 47, of Jerusalem[16]
• Shalom (Golan) Zevulun, 52, of Jerusalem[17]
• Mark Rabinowitz, 80, of Jerusalem[18]
• Eli Adourian, 49, of Kfar Adumim (died on 11 August)[19]
• Ilya Gazarkh, 73, of Jerusalem (died on 29 August)[20]
• Baruch Ostrovsky, 84, of Jerusalem (died on 3 October 1997)[21]

In August 1997, Fahad Rimawi, editor of the Jordanian weekly Almajd, wrote: "We praise and glorify the double heroic act which two Palestinian 'mujahadins' performed in the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. These two holy martyrs illuminated the night in Jerusalem...and gave meaning to Arab heroism. We do not hide our happiness upon this act."[22]

In retaliation for these and other attacks, a decision was reached to target Hamas leaders. According to an Israeli press release, Mossad agents tried to poison chairman Khaled Mashal, who resided at the time in Jordan.[23] The assassination attempt failed and the Mossad agents were captured by the Jordanian authorities. They were later released in exchange for the release of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and "spiritual leader" of Hamas who was serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison.[24][25]

• 2002 Mahane Yehuda Market bombing