A bus carrying Israeli Tourists in Sinai overturned in August 2006 killing 11 passengers and wounding dozens. Just before the crash, the driver screamed anti-Israeli epithets towards his passengers. For the convenience of the two governments, this tragedy was classified as an accident, but it was actuaslly a terror incident, the victims claim. The driver was sentenced by Egyptian Courts to 12 months’ imprisonment. The victims were all Arabs who are Israeli citizens. Now they are seeking recognition as victims of a terror attack from the Israeli Ministry of Defence. This may spell out compensation to the families who were neglected so far by both governments, Israel’s and the Egypt.
The survivors retained attorney Moshe Zingel of Tel Aviv, who specializes in handling such delicate cases, and is also representing the survivors and families of the deceased who died in the terror exposition at the Hilton Taba Hotel and Casino against the Hilton Hotel Corporation. That litigation is now underway in New York’s Southern District Court.
“This case has a twist, as you would not normally expect Arab tourists who happen to be Israeli citizens to be directly targeted as an anti-Israeli attack. However, the evidence collected in the past eight months reveals that the driver premeditated an attack against any Israelis, Jewish or not”, said Mr. Zingel. “Apparently’
One of the survivors, Mousav Hamzi (21) from Kfar Manda, Israel, went on a honeymoon with his bride, Basma, who was then 17 and was killed in the accident. “The entire ride, the driver was very nervous”, said Hamzi. “The driver said to us: you got Jewish education, you are the trash of the Jews and that we are traitors. When we asked him to turn on the air condition, he refused saying “soon you will all be very cold”. After the bus overturned, he walked out, stepped into a car that was waiting for him, and disappeared”
Under Israeli law, passed in 1970, any citizen or resident of Israel, who is a victim of an an act of hostility by an organization hostile to Israel is entitled to compensation from Israel’s National Insurance Institute. The claims must be submitted within one year from the occurance, supported by financial and medical proof and the occurrence must be certified by the Ministry of Defence as an act of hostlity. Last year, it is estimated that 340 Million N.I.S. were disbursed in such benefits.
The law does not distinguish between beneficiaries among ethnic lines. However, the victims from Kfar Manda must challenge the original classification of the accident as a result of reckless driving. The Ministry of Defense responded that all petitions will be handled in accordance with the law.