Yehuda Abraham, the US Jew arrested over a plot to bring down a commercial airliner in America, denies he was involved in terrorist activity.
And Abraham himself has experienced the effects of terrorism:Father-of-four Yehuda Abraham was one of three men detained on 12 August following an 18-month sting operation in which a British arms dealer attempted to sell an Igla missile to an undercover FBI informant posing as a terrorist.
Breaking his silence for the first time since being freed from jail on $10m bail last month, the 76-year-old said: “People who know me know I am not capable of terrorist-related activity. We believe very strongly in America and in our faith.”
..prosecutors conceded, days after Abraham’s arrest, there was no evidence to suggest he knew missiles or terrorism were involved, paving the way for his release on bail.
And apparently he is a nice guy:His nephew, Eli Mor, was one of 88 people who died when a bomb blew up a TWA flight in 1974. Remembering that tragic day, his wife Zina said: “We are family people, we have children and grandchildren. Whenever we see a terrorist attack in Israel or elsewhere on television, I always see Yehuda take out his handkerchief to wife his eye.”
Having said that, if it emerges that he was involved in money laundering, he deserves to be punished severely.Afghanistan-born Abraham has worked tirelessly for his local community, helping to found the sephardic congregation of Queen’s in the early 1970’s, and his rabbi was present at both his court appearances to date. Several years ago, Israeli chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef paid a friendly call to his home and personally blessed his children.
Meanwhile, his endeavours have also helped to enhance Jewish life in Bangkok, where he created a synagogue and a kosher kitchen in his Thailand offices.