A powerful bomb exploded this morning in the French northern city of Lorient, causing extensive damage to an Israeli-styled restaurant. Damage to the building and the neighborhood was extensive, but no one was injured in the blast.
The restaurant, The Kibbutz, serves Israeli food, is decorated with blue and white flags and has Stars of David inscribed on its walls. Its non-Jewish owner, Andre Hamonou, 43, is known as a fervent supporter of the Jewish State.
Nevertheless, despite the blast, Hamonou opened his restaurant “as usual” a few hours after the blast. “I follow Israel’s example and will not let bombs and terrorists intimidate me,” Hamonou said. Police say they have no clues as to who committed the attack, but believe the blast is linked to Hamonou’s pro-Israeli views.
Lorient has only a small Jewish community and Hamonou said that most of his clients come from the French army base on the outskirts of town. “They just love the Israeli atmosphere,” said Hamonou, who has visited Israel on several occasions.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
