Osama Najar

Oct 4, 2003 - Osama Najar, 28, of Haifa was one of 19 people killed in a suicide bombing carried out by a female terrorist from Jenin in the Maxim restaurant in Haifa. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast devastated the restaurant, of joint Jewish-Arab ownership, on Hahagana Boulevard near the southern entrance of the coastal city. It was packed mostly with regular Saturday customers. The bomber, Hanadi Jaradat, a 29-year-old lawyer from Jenin, managed to get past Maxim's security guard before blowing herself up in the middle of the restaurant. The security guard, an Israeli Arab, was killed in the attack, along with three other Israeli Arab employees of the restaurant. The victims included five members of the Almog family from Haifa and five members of the Zer-Aviv family from Kibbutz Yagur. Four children were killed and 60 people were wounded in the bombing.

Osama Najar had been the cook at Maxim for several years. "He loved the place, there had always been love between Jews and Arabs," said Jamal Khouri, who used to play poker with Najar.

"Nobody believed these attacks would reach us," said Najar's brother, Youssuf. "We're in shock. The terrorists attack us without discrimination -- Muslims, Jews, or Christians."

Osama Najar was buried in Haifa's Catholic Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and siblings.