Israel: Good reason to believe Israelis were target of attack in Istanbul

State announces it will recognize victims as people targeted by a hostile action.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Updated: APRIL 6, 2016 00:52
Avraham Goldman, Yonatan Suher and Simcha Damari, victims of Istanbul terror attack (photo credit: MDA,Courtesy,FACEBOOK)
Avraham Goldman, Yonatan Suher and Simcha Damari, victims of Istanbul terror attack
(photo credit: MDA,Courtesy,FACEBOOK)
The Defense Ministry reversed an earlier decision on Tuesday and recognized Israeli Istanbul terrorism victims as citizens targeted by hostile action who are entitled to state compensation.
Several Israelis were wounded in the March 19 suicide bombing in Istanbul, and three Israelis were killed in the attack.
“Immediately after the attack, the Defense Ministry launched an inquiry into the circumstances of the incidents and the goals [of the attacker], as obligated by law,” the ministry said.
“The Authorizing Administration [which defines the criteria that allows civilians to seek compensation after terrorist incidents] turned to all of the relevant sources to get the necessary details on the circumstances of the terrorist attack. Based on the material that was presented to the Authorizing Administration, it has emerged that there is a reasonable basis for assuming that the attack targeted Israelis.”
Wounded Israelis had expressed outrage in late March after initially being told that they did not qualify for compensation.
On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said that its deputy legal adviser, Yedidia Oron, “recognized the Istanbul terrorist attack as a hostile action.
The decision will allow the Hostile Action Casualties Department in the National Insurance institute to treat those affected and their families.”