Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 16, 2008 Iyyar 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Klinghoffer daughters recall personal tragedy at commemoration of terror victims outside Israel By Daphna Berman Tags: Terror, Achille Lauro When 34-year-old Lisa Klinghoffer heard that Palestinian terrorists had hijacked the Mediterranean cruise ship on which her parents were aboard, she remembers pausing for a moment, not really understanding what the word 'hijacked' even meant. "I never really heard it before," she said this week, recalling the 1985 watershed event. Lisa, who is now in Israel this week with her sister Ilsa, are the daughters of Leon Klinghoffer, a retired and disabled American Jewish tourist whom terrorists shot and then threw off, together with his wheelchair, from the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro into the waters below. His story, though certainly not the first case of international terrorism, garnered notoriety in its day, perhaps for its sheer cruelty, as Lisa says, of attacking a "completely defenseless man." The sisters, who live in New York, are the guests of honor this week at the Jewish Agency's special Memorial Day ceremony commemorating Israeli and Jewish victims of terrorism who were targeted beyond Israel's borders. It is the third year the JA has held the ceremony, at which the sisters spoke of their father and lit a torch along with agency chair Zeev Bielski. Advertisement Their parents, Leon and Marilyn, were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary on that fateful cruise. The voyage from Italy had several planned stops, including one in Israel. Leon was disabled and partially paralyzed as the result of two strokes and Marilyn was in remission from colon cancer. But the couple decided a vacation would do them good. Leon was the only passenger murdered aboard the ship. It is believed he was singled out because he was Jewish. In an interview this week, Lisa and Ilsa recalled the moment they were told that the harrowing two-day hijacking had ended peacefully and with no casualties. They threw a party, inviting friends, family and a few reporters who had camped outside their building since the ordeal unfolded. The bitter news broker during the festivities, and their guests quickly left. "At that point, we realized that if it could happen to our father, it could happen to anyone, anywhere," Ilsa recalled. The terrorists were granted safe passage to Tunisia, but when then-president Ronald Reagan heard that a U.S. citizen had been killed aboard the ship, he ordered a U.S. fighter jet to force the terrorist's escape plane to land in Italy. After an extradition quarrel with the U.S., then Italian Premier Bettino Craxi allowed the terrorists to flee, according to reports. Their mother died of cancer shortly after her return. The story, which made headlines across the globe, inspired a book, an opera and two movies, one of which, Voyage of Terror - The Achille Lauro Affair, starred Burt Lancaster. It also spawned a reported $1.5 billion dollar lawsuit by the family against the PLO, which was settled for an undisclosed sum before it reached the courts. Following the attacks, Lisa and Ilsa, who are now both in their fifties, established the Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation with the Anti-Defamation League. Much of the sum from the settlement with the PLO has been funneled into the foundation, which continues to lobby for anti-terrorism legislation and funds an anti-terrorism course provided to American law-enforcement officials. "We feel so honored that our father has been chosen to be commemorated," Ilsa said. "Our parents were very proud to be Jewish and very proud of Israel. It means a lot to know that people still remember him." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Animated massacre Animated Israeli film at Cannes explores Sabra and Shatila massacre. Kowtowing to funders When papers are sponsored, can their reporting be truly independent?   1.   lowest of barbaric deeds in modern times 23:29  |  sweis Melbourne 09/05/08   2.   Abu Mazen 04:19  |  meir 11/05/08

Read & React Barak: It won't be long before Israel stops rocket fire Responses: 125 Bush: We must be firm in face of those who murder innocents Responses: 118 Israel dismayed over allies' burgeoning trade with Iran Responses: 101 MI Chief: Rockets could reach Be'er Sheva within two years Responses: 76 Abbas: It's time to end the Nakba of the Palestinian people Responses: 97 More Headlines 22:54 Driver: I personally handed Olmert envelopes stuffed with cash 01:27 Israel: Bush means business on Iran nukes 02:39 ANALYSIS: Who wants to stop Iran? 02:57 ANALYSIS: Was Bush's Knesset speech a swipe at Obama? 22:16 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot synagogue; no one hurt 02:35 Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba' 20:39 Philly Jewish paper accused of kowtowing to its funders 16:53 Israeli film at Cannes explores 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre 20:09 Bush to Knesset: U.S. stands with Israel, Masada will not fall again 16:45 Hezbollah declares crisis over after Lebanon gov't climb-down 18:19 Reuters demands explanation from Israel for death of cameramen 18:57 Obama says Bush politically attacked him in Knesset address Previous Editions Select Day 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved