It seems this story has begun to grow legs.
Yediot Ahronot reports this morning that 22-year-old Reem Al-Reyashi, the mother of two who blew herself up at the Erez Crossing from the Gaza Strip to Israel, murdering four Israelis and injuring ten on 14 January, was pressured by her husband to carry out the suicide attack after he caught her with her lover who is also a member of Hamas.
In traditional society she faced execution by male family members for defaming the honor of her family.
When Imshin cautiously reported this rumor on Friday, I was dubious. It seemed too bizarre -- and too pat. If it's true, though, it has some other implications, beyond the obvious. Perhaps those tears the bomber was crying at the checkpoint were real, after all. And everything she said on her videotape has to be discounted, especially the part about how she'd wanted to be a suicide bomber since she was 13. Is that good news?
In a society bearing even the faintest traces of civilization, . . .
By the way, I saw an interview on MSNBC (I think) earlier today with some Iraqis near coalition headquarters after this morning's suicide car bombing. The reporter was asking who they thought was responsible. "The Israelis," one guy answered. "Had to be. Iraqis don't do such things."
Update: More on the bomber here. And The Sunday Times (paid subscription access only) is apparently reporting that her husband gave her a lift to the job.
