Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Dead aren’t just numbers

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:22 a.m.

THE NEW YORK TIMES has printed the pictures and stories about hundreds of individuals who died in the suicide attack on the Twin Towers Sept. 11, 2001. Those pictures and stories continue to be published and remind readers that people were killed and they weren't just numbers. With these reminders it helps all of us to appreciate the pain and suffering left behind by the killers.

Who are Avi Bayaz, Shoshana Magmari, Dahlia Masa, Haim Rafael, Yisrael Shiker, Anat Trempatush and Rasan Sharouk? You only know them as numbers in the news. They are the names of some of the 16 people killed by a suicide bomber in a pool hall and cafeteria in Rishon Lezion, Israel.

I didn't know them either, but their colored photos in Israeli newspapers made them real people and no longer just numbers to me and other readers.

Here, let Jerusalem Post writer Tovah Lazaroff, reporting from a funeral, tell you about one of them:

"For the Magmari daughters, saying good-bye to their mother for the last time was too hard.

"One fainted as she looked at the dead body of her mother, Shoshana, 51. It was wrapped in an Israeli flag and on view before the mourners at the Yarkon Cemetery. Another daughter shouted in anger at Minister-without-Portfolio Dan Meridor as he tried to comfort the family by speaking at the funeral. ..."

Lazaroff goes on to write, "Magmari had recently recovered from cancer, said her brother, Ya'acov Garadgi. 'She beat the disease only to be done in by a murderer,' he said.

"Lillian Alfasi, whose sister was with Magmari at the casino, said it was Magmari's first or second visit. She had gone to celebrate her recovery. Alfasi said her sister described a loud explosion. The lights went out, and a machine fell on them. She looked for Magmari and saw that she was dead. ...

"Garadgi said, 'She was a good wife, mother, and grandmother. She organized everything for the family. ...'

"Magmari leaves a husband, three children, and five grandchildren."

Just add this story to hundreds of others and it's easy to understand the terror and anger that has spread among families in this small nation. Already a much higher percentage of Israelis have been killed by suicide bombers than Americans lost last September. Also we must understand the relationship that exists among the people who live in close quarters, attend schools and serve together in the military. A single death in most towns has a direct impact on all of the residents. With each unnecessary killing of civilians comes a growing anger and concern about the safety of their own families and neighborhoods.

The military strikes into the Palestinian areas where terrorist cells exist have cut down on the number of suicide bombers reaching their targets. Dozens of known bombers have been intercepted and their headquarters have been raided by the Israel Defense Forces. Israelis know that successful terrorist operations must have a secure infrastructure. Therefore, the military action has been successful despite much criticism from abroad.

The action of the United States to disrupt the operations of terrorists gunning for this nation has taken our troops into several countries which are thousands of miles from our shores. I have to believe that our military actions, like that of Israel's, has upset the ability for carrying out many additional terrorist strikes planned to hurt us. Israel hitting the terrorists close to home has resulted in some safety for its people. Our nation reaching over many boundaries to weaken our enemies is an effort all of us should support. We can learn much from Israel, and at the same time our State Department shouldn't be overly critical when that little country uses the IDF to protect itself.