August 9, 2001, started like any other warm summer day in Jerusalem. Families and young people filled the city’s streets, enjoying the last days before returning to school. It was a time for casual meetups, shopping sprees, and visits to local restaurants for tasty food and conversations. The day was part of the Jewish calendar's 20th of Av, a period of mourning that followed Tisha B’Av. For many, it was a time to reflect, but for 15 families, it became a day of profound grief. Israel was still reeling from the Second Intifada, a wave of violence that followed earlier unrest. Yet, despite the tension, the city continued to function. That day, a simple afternoon for some girls would turn into one of the darkest in Jerusalem’s recent history.
Malki Roth, just 15 years old, and her friend Michal Raziel, 16, had plans to spend the day with friends. Feeling hungry, the two teens decided to grab a quick bite at a popular local spot before heading to a pre-camp counselors meeting. That choice led them to the Sbarro pizzeria on King George Avenue. What started as a routine afternoon would end in tragedy. The pizzeria, a familiar hangout for young people, became the site of a horrific act of violence.
The Attack Unfolds
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Jordanian journalism student named Ahlam Tamimi was making her way into the city. She worked as a news reader for an Arab TV station in Ramallah. With her partner, 22-year-old Izzedine Suheil el-Masri, she took a taxi to the Kalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem. There, they stepped out and walked into Israel. Their appearance as a young couple drew no suspicion, especially when Masri carried a guitar case over his shoulder. What no one realized was that the case contained 10 kilograms of explosives and a significant amount of nails designed to amplify the damage. Tamimi, who would later be recognized as the first woman to be part of Hamas’s terrorist ranks, had carefully selected a location with high civilian presence—especially children.
At exactly 2 p.m., Masri activated the bomb. The blast shattered the pizzeria and sent a shockwave through the city. Among those killed were Malki Roth, Michal Raziel, and four other teenagers. The attack also claimed the lives of three members of the Schijveschuurder family—both parents and their children—and two other American citizens, including Shoshana Yehudit Greenbaum, who was pregnant at the time. The tragedy left families in turmoil. In the immediate aftermath, the Jerusalem phone network failed under the pressure of frantic calls from loved ones. Arnold Roth, Malki’s father, was told about his daughter’s death by his two sons, who had been taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute by a social worker. The following day, 15 funerals were held before Shabbat, each one a heartbreaking reminder of the loss.
Justice and Advocacy
Tamimi was quickly identified and captured by the Shin Bet and Israeli security forces. In 2003, she appeared in an Israeli court where she confessed to her crimes. Despite showing no remorse, smiling throughout the proceedings, she received a sentence of 16 consecutive life terms. The judges ruled that she should never be considered for early parole or any form of pardon. However, Israel’s legal system allows for a review of such cases after 20 years, a fact that has caused further pain and anger for the families of the victims. For them, the sentence was not enough, and the possibility of her release in the future remains a source of deep distress.
Frimet (Moseson) Roth, an American citizen and mother of Malki, has become a vocal advocate in keeping Tamimi behind bars. She highlighted the fact that her own citizenship and that of her daughter could have been used to request Tamimi’s extradition. But the process never moved forward, leaving the Roth family with unresolved questions and a sense of injustice. The lack of a clear legal path to remove Tamimi from Israel has left a lingering wound for the families affected. They feel betrayed by the system that allowed the attacker to remain in custody within the country.
Legacy and Resilience
One of the survivors, Chana Tova Chaya Nachenberg, suffered severe injuries from the blast. She spent nearly two decades in a coma before passing away on June 1, 2023. Her death was a reminder of the long-lasting effects of terrorism, which continue to haunt those who survived. Many others still live with physical and emotional scars, their lives irrevocably changed by that day. The Sbarro bombing remains a symbol of the ongoing conflict in the region, showing the human cost of political struggles and negotiations. For the families of the victims, however, the conflict is deeply personal. Each life lost and every injury suffered is a painful chapter that will never truly be closed.
The story of the Sbarro bombing is one of tragedy, loss, and the struggle for justice. It is also a reminder of the resilience of the people of Jerusalem and the unwavering determination to keep moving forward, despite the scars of the past. The Roth family and others like them continue to fight for justice and closure, hoping to prevent another day like August 9 from ever happening again.