Suicide blast kin demand Joe aid

The family of an Israeli American girl killed in a 2001 Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem is seeking a meeting with President Biden in hopes of forcing Jordan to extradite a woman convicted in the deadly attack.

The parents of Malki Roth turned to Biden on Sunday asking to meet with the president when he comes to Jerusalem this week. They want Biden to put pressure on Jordan, a close US ally, to send Ahlam Tamimi to the US for trial.

“We are bereaved parents as you are, sir. We have a burning sense that injustice in the wake of our child’s murder is winning,” Frimet and Arnold Roth wrote in a letter sent to Biden through the US Embassy. “We ask that you address this as only the leader of the United States can.”

The Roths have been waging a campaign for the extradition of Tamimi since she was released by Israel in a 2011 prisoner swap with the Hamas militant group. Under that deal, Tamimi was sent to her native Jordan, where she lives freely and has been a familiar face in the media. Jordanian authorities have rebuffed calls to extradite her.

On Aug. 9, 2001, a Palestinian bomber walked into a Jerusalem pizzeria and blew himself up, killing 15 people. Two US citizens, including 15-year-old Malki Roth, were among the dead.

Tamimi, who chose the target and guided the bomber there, was arrested weeks later and sentenced by Israel to 16 life sentences. Since her release, she has expressed no remorse and even boasted that she was pleased with the high death toll. In a 2017 interview with the AP, she said Palestinians have a right to resist Israel by any means.

The Roths have repeatedly called on US authorities to press Jordan to turn over Tamimi for trial.

The US has charged Tamimi with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction against US nationals.