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Zion Square refrigerator bombing

SOLVED1975Zion Square, Jerusalem3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Jerusalem Zion Square Sansur Building
Jerusalem Zion Square Sansur Building — Credit: Utilisateur:Djampa · CC BY-SA 4.0

On July 4, 1975, a bomb hidden inside a refrigerator exploded in an appliance store at Zion Square in the center of Jerusalem, killing 15 civilians and wounding 77 others. A Jewish passerby named Shabtai Levi unknowingly helped a Palestinian man carry the booby-trapped refrigerator, which contained approximately 5 kilograms (11 lb) of explosives, into the store. Two people who worked near Zion Square, Esther Landner and Yehuda Warshovsky, grew suspicious of the appliance. Landner called the police, but the refrigerator detonated while she was still answering questions from the responding officers.

Among those killed were Rivka ("Ribbie") Ben-Yitzhak, 35, an American citizen, and her husband Michael, who left behind two young children. In their memory, the Israel Museum established the Ben-Yitzhak Award, presented annually to an outstanding children's book illustrator. Daoud Khoury, an Arab accountant employed at the King David Hotel, was also among the dead.

The Palestinian militant group the PLO claimed responsibility for the bombing. It was later revealed that the attack had been carried out by Ahmed Jabara, also known as Abu Sukar, an Arab-American originally from Turmus Ayya. Jabara was assisted by Bassem Tabila of Nablus, who fled to Jordan and avoided arrest.

Following an investigation conducted by Shin Bet and the Israel Police, Jabara was arrested and tried before a military court in June 1977. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years.

In 2003, Jabara was released after serving 27 years in prison, as a gesture by the Israeli government toward Yasser Arafat. Shortly after his release, Jabara called for the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers at a rally in Bethlehem, a statement that received wide coverage in Palestinian media. Arafat subsequently appointed him as an adviser on prisoner affairs. Jabara died of a heart attack in Ramallah on July 17, 2013, at age 78.

Key facts

Victims
Michael Ben-Yitzhak, Rivka Ben-Yitzhak, Daoud Khoury
Date
1975
Location
Zion Square, Jerusalem
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1975-07-04

    A booby-trapped refrigerator containing approximately 5 kg of explosives detonates inside an appliance store at Zion Square, Jerusalem, killing 15 civilians and wounding 77.

  2. 1977-06

    Ahmed Jabara (Abu Sukar) is tried before a military court and convicted of carrying out the bombing; sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years.

  3. 2003

    Jabara is released from prison after serving 27 years, as a gesture by the Israeli government toward Yasser Arafat; he is later appointed adviser on prisoner affairs by Arafat.

  4. 2013-07-17

    Ahmed Jabara dies of a heart attack in Ramallah at age 78.

Best coverage

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People

  • Michael Ben-Yitzhak

    VICTIM

    Killed in the bombing alongside his wife Rivka, leaving behind two small children.

  • Ahmed Jabara

    CONVICTED

    Also known as Abu Sukar; Arab-American from Turmus Ayya convicted by military court in June 1977 of carrying out the bombing and sentenced to life plus 30 years; released in 2003 after 27 years.

  • Rivka Ben-Yitzhak

    VICTIM

    35-year-old American citizen killed in the bombing; the Ben-Yitzhak Award for children's book illustration was established in her and her husband's memory.

  • Daoud Khoury

    VICTIM

    Arab accountant at the King David Hotel, killed in the attack.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • Israel outline jerusalem

    other document

    Israel outline jerusalem

    Credit: Ynhockey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

  • Jerusalem Zion Square Sansur Building

    archival location

    Jerusalem Zion Square Sansur Building

    Credit: Utilisateur:Djampa · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Places

Zion Square, Jerusalem

31.7819, 35.2194

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On July 4, 1975, a booby-trapped refrigerator packed with explosives detonated inside an appliance store at Zion Square in Jerusalem, killing 15 civilians and wounding 77 others.
Where did the bombing happen?
Zion Square, Jerusalem.
Who was convicted?
Ahmed Jabara (Also known as Abu Sukar; Arab-American from Turmus Ayya convicted by military court in June 1977 of carrying out the bombing and sentenced to life plus 30 years; released in 2003 after 27 years.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in Israel

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICZion Square refrigerator bombingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The New York TimesThe New York Times · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 07, 2026