Suheil Adawi

Mar 31, 2002 - Suheil Adawi, 32, of Turan was one of 15 people killed in a suicide bombing in Haifa, in the Matza restaurant of the gas station near the Grand Canyon shopping mall.

Just after 2:30 PM on Sunday afternoon, during the Passover holiday, the terrorist entered the popular Matza restaurant in the Neve Sha'anan district near the Grand Canyon mall. The explosion tore the roof off the one-story building, and blew out the windows, instantly killing 14 people, and leaving horrific scenes of people on fire, and people with lost limbs. Over 40 people were injured.

The Matza restaurant was managed by the Adawi family from the Arab town of Turan in the Lower Galilee. Suheil Adawi worked as a waiter in the restaurant. Sunday was his day off, but he came in to fill in for his brother Mundir who took the day off. Suheil was killed in the blast; five other family members were wounded, among them the owner of the restaurant.

Suheil Adawi, married with a four-year-old son, was part of an extended family from whose members included judges, lawyers, and businessmen with extensive connections in the Jewish community. His wife is due to give birth to their second child next month.

"His wife and his son were his whole world," friends said. "His only other love was Maccabi Haifa. He went to all the games."

Suheil Adawi was buried in Turan. He is survived by his wife and son.