In Israel the new year began with a terror attack in the heart of Tel Aviv.
On Friday, January 1, the cafes and shops along Dizengoff Street were packed. One of the many passersby was Nashat Melhem, a 31 Arab-Israeli, with emotional problems and a criminal history.
After he wandered into a health food store and sampled the merchandise, Melhem calmly stepped outside, pulled an automatic weapon from his backpack, and sprayed bullets at a group of Israelis celebrating a friend’s birthday at a pub across the street. “We dropped to the floor and I remember the smile on his face,” one witness, who gave his name as Noah, described afterwards. When the carnage was over, seven people lay wounded in the street (four seriously) and two men – Alon Bakal, the pub’s 26 year old manager, and 30-year-old Shimon Ruimi – were dead.
Alon Bakal
The attack was the latest in a line of horrible murders in the Jewish state in recent months, and was even more violent in its scope, featuring the mass shooting of innocent civilians in the center of a major city. Melhem remains at large, the subject of a huge manhunt in Israel – and creating major fear for Israelis that they might, God forbid, be his next victims. Israeli police suspect Melhem is behind the murder of an Arab taxi driver in Tel Aviv soon after the shooting.
Instead of condemning the murders, some figures and media outlets around the world seemed to try to justify the attack.
“Tel Aviv shooting: suspect 'wanted to avenge cousin's death'” Britain’s influential Guardian newspaper announced in a headline, creating the impression that the attack was somehow reasonable.
That sentiment was echoed by MK Ayman Odeh, who heads a coalition in Israel’s Knesset of Arab parties. Appearing on Israeli TV in the aftermath of the attack, MK Odeh asserted that the root cause of Melhem’s attack was Israel’s occupation of Arab lands – before criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a human being that just incites”.
In the United States, many media outlets emphasized that some relatives had said Melhem was sad after the death of his cousin in 2006 in a police confrontation. CBS news was typical in describing Melhem as “traumatized” by his cousin’s death in 2006, implying that his decision to open fire on the crowd in Tel Aviv was somehow reasonable or even justified.
In reporting on the terrorism sweeping Israel, in October 2015, Time Magazine was typical in headlining its report “The Desperation Driving Young Palestinians to Violence”. Rather than condemning attacks on Israelis, the very fact that Israelis were being murdered was perversely offered as proof of the legitimacy of their attackers’ grievances. Instead of portraying Arabs as free agents who are capable of choosing their actions like other people, it peddled an offensive old stereotype: of Arabs as somehow (unlike other people) unable to refrain from violence.
Yet after the Tel Aviv attack, it was those closest to Nashat Milhem – relatives and friends who might have been expected to share in his sense of desperation or trauma – who didn’t try to explain away his murderous rampage, but who worked with the police to help apprehend him and head off further violence, instead. It was Nashat’s own father, Muhammad – a security guard and volunteer with the Israeli police – who recognized his son from media reports and contacted the police to alert them of the attacker’s identity.
Muhammad Milhem
“It's important to me now that they reach my son and arrest him, because he's still armed, and just like he murdered two people he could murder more," Muhammad Milhem explained. "I'm worried and I want to hear that he's in the police's hands." After coming home from work at 6 AM, he was inundated with calls from concerned friends and relatives who thought they’d recognized Nashat from surveillance footage being shown on TV. He turned right around and returned to the police station to help them in their search.
Muhammad Milhem told reporters that “I am an Israeli citizen, a law-abiding citizen. I heard what my son has done, and I am sorry. I did not educate him to act in that way. I went to the police and helped the security forces. I did not expect that my son would do such a thing.”
Mahmad Masri, a member of the local council in the town of Ar'ara, where Milhem lives, echoed Muhammad Milhem’s sentiments. "We are in shock. The shooter is my neighbor. The entire village is surprised and condemns the event."
As Israeli police work to track down Milhem and prevent further carnage, the world should learn from the actions of his family and community how to respond to terror: not by trying to explain away or vindicate evil – but by condemning it, forcefully and fully. Violence is neither inevitable nor justifiable.
ADDENDUM
This article was written in the immediate aftermath of the Tel Aviv terror attack, when the shooter's father, Muhammed Melhem, had publicly stated his repugnance at the crime and declared his willingness to help police apprehend his son. My objective in writing was to highlight Muhammed's statements, and point out that his condemnation of the attack is the only acceptable response. His willingness to state clearly that he condemned his son's terror attack, and that he would do all he could to help police find his son, seemed to be an inspiring example of human decency.
On Tuesday, January 5, Israeli police arrested Muhammed Melhem as an accomplice to his son's crime. Several other family members were also arrested. Was it naive to accept Muhammed Melhem's statements at face value? Perhaps. At this point, we do not know for certain whether he was lying, if the police are using his arrest as a tactic to put pressure on his son to come forward, or if they really do suspect he was an accomplice and obstructing justice. As police continue to search for Nashat Melhem, I fervently hope and wish that his father helps rather than hinders the search, that Nashat is found soon, without any further violence.
(12) Anonymous, January 6, 2016 5:32 PM
What a shame we have gotten to this point.
We are all GOD's children. Why don't we behave as such?
(11) Anonymous, January 5, 2016 11:04 AM
The terrorists father is a suspect in the murder
The terrorists father has now been arrested. I wouldn't trust what he says and how he directs the police. I don't agree with the angle of this article, making the terrorists father look innocent.
(10) Jeff W, January 4, 2016 11:29 PM
Condemn terror
Yes, there are no excuses for terror. That's what I think every time I pass the huge monument just outside the old city of Jerusalem to one of the 20th century's most notorious terrorists -- the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. That’s also what I think when I remember the Joudeh family They were playing and laughing at the front of their Gaza house, near their pomegranate and orange trees, at the end of last year’s Operation Protective Edge. In broad daylight, with no fighting or weapons nearby, an Israeli drone operator spotted them on his video screen.The racist terrorist pressed the missile launch button, murdering four children and their mother, and taking a leg off her fifth child. Who is working to track down their murderer and bring him to justice?
Alan S., January 5, 2016 11:33 PM
True, terror is terror.
Read the article in this edition of aish.com by M. Freund. There is a difference between a few bad apples and an entire orchard that is poisonous.
(9) Anonymous, January 4, 2016 7:06 PM
Jumping to confusions
First, about the father: As Haaretz reported (http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.695080), the father kept the gun for his private security job in a locked safe at home per Public Security Ministry regulations. When he found the safe empty, he reported the missing weapon to police. Seems to me he followed the rules scrupulously.
As for the gratuitous media-bashing, an unfortunate and deeply misguided stable of Aish in my view, to report or highlight wrenching difficulties or traumatic events in the life of a terrorist is not in itself offering an excuse for terrorism. None of these mainstream articles or headlines, so far as we know, says anything like, "Well, what can you expect from someone who has been through all these torments?" That is a conclusion which a reader may or may not draw, meaning the onus is on the reader not the writer. Any reader will want to know what kind of person does these things. What is this person's background, family history, personal associations and circumstances? To report such details factually, without proclaiming them as legitimate excuses or justifications,is simply good journalism. Yes, some may conclude, "oh, the poor boy, he was still in shock over his cousin," or "his friends lured him in" or "what can you expect from someone whose community is so ill-treated and oppressed." More discerning readers will more likely respond, "So what? He still made bad choices for which he must be held accountable."
That's essentially how the American legal system works, especially in a death penalty trial. The defense may present mitigating circumstances -- not as an alibi or negation of guilt, but in a plea for mercy in sentencing. That balancing between justice and mercy is a bedrock principle of Talmudic jurisprudence as well.
(8) Mauro Keiserman, January 4, 2016 1:56 PM
I full agree with the comments and there is no doubt that the death of innocent people is a tragedy. It is not justified, even if there are people trying to explain, blame the occupation as a motive for such cruel murders. However, there seems to be no more serious reasons, in my view, than this chronic situation and with no prospect of solution feeding low esteem, hopelessness in the future and hatred. This terrorist minority will persist and kill innocent people more and more. What is the solution?
(7) Anonymous, January 4, 2016 12:20 AM
may G_d give strength to the families of the lives lost in this act of terror.
the world must not tolerate any act of terror. we are not free until every act of terror is completely destroyed.
(6) Anonymous, January 3, 2016 9:28 PM
Press obviously Antisemitic
The article mentions the kid was upset from a 2006 incident. That's like pouring milk all over the kitchen floor out of anger in 2016 because someone spilled milk in 2006? That's 10 years ago! Who remembers what happened 10 years ago? Totally over dramatic that the press seems to think that events that happened 10 years ago affect carnage and murder of innocent civilian lives who have no connection whatsoever. It's simply sick that people feel the need to take out frustration for murdering people. Does Time magazine feel that it would be justified for Mexican illegal immigrants to open fire on innocent Americans because their frustration at not being naturalized by the State Department? Or perhaps ISIS was justified in mowing down French civilians because of their frustration over Muslim nationalism and Eurpean involvement in Syria? Perhaps the French response was disproportionate.
(5) Alan S., January 3, 2016 8:59 PM
At least fhe father apologized...
His son would have found another weapon to use if not for the machine gun in the house. Violence is violence, no matter the choice of weapon. Violence using a machine gun is just as bad as using a pistol, a knife, bomb, or a car. (Yes, the kill rate using a machine gun will be much greater than that using a knife or pistol.) The more important point is that the Arabs doing this in Israel are just as evil as the terrorists that commit mass murder in America using various weapons of mass destruction (eg., Sandy Hook, Columbine, Charleston Church, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma City).
(4) Anonymous, January 3, 2016 7:08 PM
Shame on the world
I feel deep regret,that the world stands by and even some try to justify why it is o.k to kill and terrorize the people of Israel.If there is even a threat without incident it makes the headlines .We the Jewish people must speak out loud and clear of the misjustice we constantly encounter.We should not give up hope,do what we do best, daven, and realize the miracle that surrounds us everyday.
(3) Clare, January 3, 2016 5:00 PM
You are right, the father is no hero, however he is not blaming others for his sons failings but wants his son in police custody, it is this i and perhaps others find refreshing.
(2) Reuven Frank, January 3, 2016 3:48 PM
It's a losing battle
Dear Dr. Miller
You're 100% right.
BUT
you're not going to change ANYTHING!
That's the way the world wants to see it, and that's the way it's going to be.
The world would not be satisfied if every Jew in Israel walked into the sea tomorrow. They'd blame our carcasses for no longer supplying the Arab citizens with electricity or gas.
There simply IS no victory here.
No proof.
No logic.
No justice for ALL!
Nothing!
I am a simple Jew, waiting every day for the Messiah to come.
Barring that, I just don't see any chance at all that
"they" are going to "get it."
Get used to it, and
get in line to wait.
What else is there to do?
Anonymous, January 4, 2016 5:25 AM
Vote this government out.
Just change the government.
(1) Rabbi Stewart Weiss, January 3, 2016 3:33 PM
Father is no hero
Are you kidding me?! Apologies notwithstanding, the father kept a sub-machine gun in his house, with a mentally-disturbed murderer who spent several years in prison for trying to take the gun of an IDF soldier. If this is the gun that destroyed several beautiful young Israeli's lives, the father should himself be sent away to prison for a long, long time. THAT is the lesson that needs to learned; not useless hand-wringing after your son has terrorized an entire city because you were criminally negligent. Rabbi Stewart Weiss
glenda urmacher, January 3, 2016 4:23 PM
Thank you Rabbi Weiss, That was my first response as well.
How many other muslim/arab families have weapons that their deranged children can confiscate, and use against Israeli citizens?
How moronic are the members of the Knesset to allow this.
How many of your children have to die for your stupidity?
Anonymous, January 3, 2016 4:28 PM
Respectfully I disagree
We don't know the whole story.
The Father is a security officer so he will have some type of gun.
I haven't heard a Father of a terrorist apologize before or help the police in the manhunt. For that I respect the man.
Shoshana-Jerusalem, January 3, 2016 7:45 PM
the brother is arrested
The murder's brother has been arrested for being involved in planning the whole thing. I don't think the father is a tzadik, but it's still good he said what he did. Of course he wants to protect himself
Anonymous, January 3, 2016 9:09 PM
RESPECT FOR THE FATHER---- are you out of your mind or what, father had no other choice but to come forward, knew his son's extremist ideas,who tried to steal gun from an IDF, spent time in prison.IDF. Once identified Nashat Melhem, IDF blow up their house of the terrorist, i think the father, who should take some of this blame by keeping gun in the house. It's the same like the mother of San bernardino - Saied Faroq 's mother lived in the same house,said on National TV " I didn't know any thing or see anything going on, how is that possible.
Anonymous, January 12, 2016 3:33 PM
You were right!
You were right. I wish I could have respect for the Father but now with the shooter killed and more information on the family, my thoughts have changed.