US seeks extradition of Palestinian attacker in Jordan

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. mentioned Monday it’s nonetheless searching for the extradition of a Palestinian girl in Jordan convicted of aiding a suicide bomber in Jerusalem in 2001. Nevertheless it declined to touch upon a request from the household of one of many victims for a gathering with President Joe Biden.

The household of an Israeli-American woman killed within the assault have requested for a gathering with Biden when he visits Israel later this week. They need him to press Jordan, an in depth American ally, to ship Ahlam Tamimi to the U.S. for trial.

“We ask that you simply tackle this as solely the chief of america can,” Frimet and Arnold Roth, the mother and father of Malki Roth, who was 15 when she was killed within the assault, wrote in a letter.

The Roths have been waging a marketing campaign for the extradition of Tamimi since she was launched by Israel in a 2011 prisoner swap with the Hamas militant group and despatched to her native Jordan, the place she lives freely and has been a well-recognized face within the media.

“The U.S. authorities continues to hunt her extradition and the Authorities of Jordan’s help in bringing her to justice for her function within the heinous assault,” the Nationwide Safety Council mentioned Monday.

On Aug. 9, 2001, a Palestinian bomber walked right into a Jerusalem pizzeria and blew himself up, killing 15 folks. Two Americans, together with Malki Roth, had been among the many useless.

Tamimi, who selected the goal and guided the bomber there, was arrested weeks later and sentenced by Israel to 16 life sentences. Since her launch, she has boasted that she was happy with the excessive dying toll. In a 2017 interview with The Related Press, she mentioned the Palestinians have a proper to withstand Israel by any means, together with lethal assaults.

The USA has charged Tamimi with conspiring to make use of a weapon of mass destruction in opposition to People. Her title was added to the FBI’s record of Most Needed Terrorists.

The U.S. and Jordan signed an extradition treaty in 1995. However in 2017, Jordan’s excessive courtroom blocked her extradition, reportedly claiming the treaty was by no means ratified.

Jordan is without doubt one of the United States’ closest companions within the Arab world, seen as a drive of moderation and stability within the risky Center East.