Historic Breakthrough in 43-Year-Old Terror Case
In a major development for one of France's longest-running terrorism investigations, Palestinian authorities have arrested 70-year-old Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra, the alleged mastermind behind the deadly 1982 attack on Jewish restaurant Jo Goldenberg in Paris. The arrest comes exactly 43 years after the antisemitic terrorist attack that killed six people and wounded twenty others.
The 1982 Attack That Shocked France
On August 9, 1982, six assailants stormed the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in Paris's historic Le Marais district, a neighborhood that has served as the heart of the city's Jewish community for centuries. The attackers opened fire on lunchtime patrons and threw a grenade into a dining room containing approximately fifty customers. The attack represented the deadliest assault on French Jews since World War II.
According to French judicial authorities, Adra served as the leader of the terrorist cell responsible for the massacre. The attack was attributed to the Abu Nidal Organization, a Palestinian militant group that splintered from the PLO and was designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries including the United States and European Union.
International Cooperation Leads to Arrest
The arrest occurred on the West Bank, where Palestinian police apprehended Adra following years of international investigation. French authorities have identified six suspects in total for the attack, with Adra being considered the primary organizer. He becomes the first suspect to be taken into custody in this case.
French President Emmanuel Macron immediately praised the cooperation, stating: 'I am pleased with the excellent cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. I think of all the families who have carried the pain of waiting for so long.'
Political Context and Extradition Process
The timing of the arrest coincides with France's planned official recognition of Palestinian statehood on Monday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot directly linked the arrest to this diplomatic move, calling it "the result of the French recognition of the Palestinian state" in a social media post.
France is preparing to submit an official extradition request to Palestinian authorities, potentially as early as Monday. The case has already sparked political controversy in France, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticizing the recognition of Palestinian statehood, claiming it would "hand over the country to a terrorist organization" referring to Hamas.
Minister Barrot defended France's position, asserting that "France is unfailingly committed to Israel's security" while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic recognition of Palestine.
The Jo Goldenberg restaurant, which became a symbol of this tragic attack, closed its doors in 2006, and owner Jo Goldenberg passed away in 2014. For the victims' families, this arrest represents a long-awaited step toward justice after four decades of uncertainty.