Teen bomber's mothers calls those who sent him 'immoral'

The mother of a teenage bomber blew himself up in a crowded Tel Aviv outdoor market today has called the militants who sent him to his death “immoral” for sending a teenager on a suicide mission.

Three Israelis were killed and 32 others wounded in the first such attack since Yasser Arafat left the region for medical treatment last week.

Samir Abdullah, 45, said the people who had sent her son to Tel Aviv were wrong to exploit someone too young to understand the implications of his act.

“It’s immoral to send someone so young,” she said. ”They should have sent an adult who understands the meaning of his deeds.”

Abdullah said that over the past week she had noticed her son acting strangely.

“I had a feeling that the boy was undergoing some kind of change,” she said. “He would kiss my hand frequently. He would often ask me to pray for him. He changed, but I didn’t believe he would carry out an attack.”

Abdel Rahim, 53, Alfar’s father, said his son woke him up early Monday and asked for two shekels (27p) before leaving the family home.

“Two shekels, that’s what boys ask for – it’s not money for men,” he said. “He kissed me on the cheek and hand and left and I went back to sleep.”