Six Palestinians to Stand Trial for 1982 Paris Deli Attack
Historic Trial Opens in Paris for 1982 Attack on Jewish Restaurant
Table of Contents
Six Suspects Face justice Decades After Deadly Shooting at Jo Goldenberg’s
Paris, France – A landmark trial has commenced in Paris, bringing to justice six alleged members of the Palestinian militant Abu Nidal group for a brutal attack on a Jewish restaurant in the city’s Marais district in 1982.The shooting, which occurred on August 9, 1982, at the popular Jo Goldenberg’s restaurant and deli, claimed six lives and injured 22 others, leaving an indelible scar on the heart of Paris.
Decades in the Making: A long Road to Justice
The trial, which began on Monday, represents a important moment for the victims’ families and survivors, many of whom have waited over four decades for accountability. “For them, this is not about the past but the present. It’s a trial they intend to follow day by day,” said Patrick Baudouin, a lawyer representing dozens of victims’ relatives and one direct survivor.
The survivor, who was not physically injured in the attack but remains deeply traumatized, hopes to find some understanding through the proceedings. ”He wants to see the suspects and try to understand,” Baudouin added.The alleged perpetrators are believed to have been members of the Abu Nidal Organization, a militant Palestinian faction known for its extreme violence.The organization, named after its leader Sabri al-Banna, was responsible for numerous attacks globally, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
The Suspects: Where Are They now?
Of the six defendants, only two are present in the courtroom. Walid Abdulrahman Abu Zayed was extradited from Norway to France in 2020, while Hazza taha was recently apprehended in Paris.The whereabouts of the remaining four suspects remain a significant challenge for French authorities. The alleged ringleader, Mohamed Souhair al-Abassi, also known as Amjad Atta, is reportedly in Jordan, where extradition requests have been denied. Three other suspects – Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra (also known as Hicham Harb), Nabil hassan Mahmoud Othmane (also known as Ibrahim Hamza), and nizar Tawfiq Moussa hamada (also known as Hani) – are believed to be in either the Palestinian territories or Jordan.International arrest warrants for thes individuals were issued by French authorities in 2015, nearly 33 years after the attack, underscoring the protracted nature of the investigation and the pursuit of justice.
Remembering the Horror: A Community Scarred
jo Goldenberg, the owner of the restaurant, recalled the terrifying events in an interview in 2002. “They fired on everyone who was eating lunch – everyone,” he said, describing the chaos that unfolded during a busy lunchtime. The restaurant, once a vibrant tourist attraction in the historic Marais neighborhood, has as closed its doors.
The Abu Nidal Organization’s reign of terror extended beyond Paris. The group is linked to at least two dozen attacks worldwide, including the deadly assaults on El Al Israel Airlines ticket counters at the Rome and Vienna airports in 1985, which killed 18 people. The notorious Abu Nidal himself was found dead in his Baghdad apartment in August 2002, wiht Iraqi authorities stating he died by suicide.
This trial marks a crucial step in confronting a dark chapter of history, offering a glimmer of hope for closure and remembrance for those affected by the 1982 attack.