Israeli victims of Istanbul bomb recognized as terror victims

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday recognized the 14 Israeli victims of last month’s terror attack in Istanbul as official “victims of hostilities,” qualifying them and their families for special state benefits.

On March 19, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest, killing four people and injuring dozens more. Three Israeli tourists were among those died in the blast, and 11 were wounded to varying degrees.

The ministry did not initially recognize the Israelis killed and injured as victims of hostilities, as it was not entirely clear if they had been specifically targeted in the attack for being Israelis or had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

But upon consideration and further investigation, the ministry determined “there is a reasonable basis for the belief that the attack was directed at Israelis,” it said in a statement.

As a result, the senior deputy legal adviser to the Defense Ministry, Yedidya Oron, decided to grant the victims that designation.

“This decision will allow the victims of hostilities department in the National Insurance Institute to deal with the victims and their families,” the statement said.

The ministry did not detail what information led to that “reasonable basis.” However, just after the attack the Turkish T24 news site reported that the suicide bomber had followed the Israeli tour group from their hotel in the Besiktas neighborhood, located near Taksim Square, to the restaurant on Istiklal Avenue where they ate breakfast that morning. When the group exited, the bomber blew himself up, the report said.

Simha Dimri, 59, Avraham Goldman, 70, and Yonathan Suher, 40, were killed in the bombing, as was an Iranian man.

Simha Dimri (L), 60, Yonathan Suher (C), 40, and Avraham Goldman (R), 69, the three Israelis who were killed in a suicide bombing in Istanbul, March 19, 2016. (Photos courtesy of the families/Facebook via JTA)

Israeli victims who die or are injured in terror attacks either within Israel or abroad are considered victims of hostilities by the state, under a law drafted in 1970. Those injured receive special benefits from Israel’s tax authority and compensation from the National Insurance Institute, its social security agency, as do the families of those who are killed.

The group of Israelis were visiting Turkey as a part of a culinary tour of the country, which was a prime destination for vacations before relations soured between Jerusalem and Ankara.