Terrorist’s Widow Treated in Tel Aviv Hospital

By Nathan Burstein December 20, 2011

Being the widow of one of the Middle East’s most notorious terrorists isn’t enough to stop Israeli doctors from treating you.

In one of today’s stranger news items, Israel’s Channel 2 is reporting that the wife of Mohammed Oudeh, the mastermind behind the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics, is receiving medical care at Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv. Channel 2 reporter Ohad Hamo says she’s in a coma, and is being visited by daughters who’ve arrived from Jordan and Ramallah. A third daughter is reportedly on her way from Syria — an unusual situation, to say the least, given relations between the two countries.

The nature of the older woman’s medical condition is unclear, as are the reasons for her arrival in Tel Aviv from Jordan. Assuta cited medical confidentiality in refusing to confirm or deny her presence at the hospital.

Assuming the report is true, the Shmooze can only imagine the political and diplomatic considerations that resulted in Israel’s decision to allow the woman entry and provide her with medical treatment.

Her husband, whose nom de guerre was Abu Daoud, masterminded the hostage-taking of Israel’s delegation at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The attack resulted in the deaths of 11 Israelis.

Abu Daoud died of a kidney ailment last year in Syria. He remained unrepentant, threatening Israel in a final statement: “Today, I cannot fight you any more, but my grandson will and his grandsons, too.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO