Earlier we reported that Palestinian terrorist Rasmea Odeh had agreed to a plea deal in her immigration fraud case, Terrorist Rasmea Odeh cops plea deal, to leave country.
Under that plea deal, Rasmea would avoid prison time, but would require her to forfeit her U.S. citizenship and be deported (likely to Jordan initially). Her plea hearing will be held on April 25, 2017 at 2:30 PM, at federal court in Detroit.
The plea on immigration fraud resulted from Rasmea’s failure to disclose on her visa papers (in 1994) and naturalization papers (2003) that she had been convicted in Israel in 1970 of the bombing of the SuperSol supermarket in Jerusalem, killing Hebrew University students Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner.
[Vigil in memory of Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner, DePaul University, outside fundraiser for Rasmea Odeh, February 2015]
After the announcement of the plea deal, we published a Statement from family of Edward Joffe on Rasmea Odeh plea deal. That statement provided, in part:
“Although Odeh will not serve further prison time for the Immigration Fraud crimes of which she is guilty, we believe that after a long and difficult trial and appeal, it is time for her to be stripped of her US citizenship and deported without further delay.While it would have been helpful to have seen some kind of repentance for her horrendous acts, her plea does show admission of guilt in our eyes. We hope that her misguided supporters will now recognize her guilty plea for what it is, and desist from pretending she is a victim.The true victims are the two young men Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner whom she murdered.
I also have received a statement from the family of Leon Kanner, reprinted below.
I had the pleasure of meeting Leon’s three sisters (and one of Edward’s brothers) during my 2015 trip to Israel.
[Sisters of Leon Kanner – Israel 2015][Photo by William Jacobson]
That day, Irit was at her parents house in Netanya. Early in the morning, before they knew of the bombing, her mother told her about a special dream she had, “at night, she saw my grandmother in the dream with open arms calling Leon to her.”At ten o clock in the morning, her mother went to the hairdresser. Irit heard on the radio, the news about the bomb, but without names.After 20 minutes, two policemen arrived at the house and told Irit and her father the news of Leon’s death. Her father said, “How can we tell this… to Mom.” A few minutes later, her mother entered, they hugged her and mentioned Leon’s name, and from their facial expressions her mother knew. Her mother began to cry and pull at her own hair. Her mother was almost silent for hours, then recalled her dream.The secretary at the kibbutzim where her sisters lived were notified and told her sisters. The sisters then took the sad journey to Netanya.In this photo the sisters comfort their mother, who hugged the casket. There are other photos of the grieving the family asked me not to use, it’s just too painful.
[Leon Kanner Mother and Sisters at Funeral, Jerusalem 1969]
[In the camera that was found at the bombing site was this photo which was taken with the scenery of Jerusalem. This photo was later developed as Leon did not get the chance to see it]
Rasmieh Odeh carried out a terrorist act in the midst of a meeting point of civilian life and has never expressed repent since. Two families’ worlds fell apart that day. Our parents, Clara and Marcos Kanner, struggled to their last day with their loss. They kept their mourning to themselves allowing our family to grow and hold on to life. Our mother lived to the age of 92, our father to the age of 93. After their death we found in the house a box with excerpts from the press they have kept away through the years. The pain has accompanied them on a daily basis and will be carried on in our family to present and onwards.
[Leon Kanner with his parents Clara and Marcus, at his Bar-Mitzvah, 1961]
The inscriptions on the graves are simple, and nearly identical. Edward’s brother Harold provided the translation:
“Here is buriedOur dear son and brotherEfraim (Hebrew of Edward) David Joffe (Eddie) (z”l- means of blessed memory)21 years oldWe will remember you forever”
Then the same for “Arie (Leon Kaner) 20 years old”
[Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner, Headstones]
“… these beloved and dearest in life are also together in death…”Their light [spark] of life was extinguished by a cruel hand in Jerusalemon the third day of Adar, 5729May their Souls be bound together in the eternal chain of Life
[Graves of Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner Jerusalem – Joint Inscription]
As in many instances in the past, also at present, as the plea deal hearing of Ramse Odeh’s citizenship fraud approaches, we feel it is of great importance to preserve the presence of Leon Kanner and Edward Joffe, whose actual voices she silenced forever in the cruel terrorist act she chose to take forward in Jerusalem on February of 1969.We have been living the loss for almost 5 decades, and though the pain carries on, so does the memories of Leon’s life and all that he had achieved and also dreamed of in the future.What’s left to do is to bring true justice forward in the decision regarding the plea. We wish to express our vigorous support to the US Department of Justice Attorney Team who so professionally has been carrying on the prosecution process.We are hopeful and certain that the court will reach the best decision and justice, keeping in mind the true meaning of victim and victimizer.Sincerely,The Kanner Family
[Featured Image: Leon Kanner at Masada]
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