HistoryData
general1975

1975 incident in Jerusalem, Israel

November 13, 1975

A bomb attack in central Jerusalem killed seven people and injured 42, claimed by Palestinian militant groups Fatah and the DFLP.

Quick Facts

Year
1975
Category
general

Key Facts

Date of attack
13 November 1975, approximately 7:00 pm
Deaths
7 (6 on the night, 1 the following day)
Injured
42, including two foreign tourists
Location
Zion Square, Jaffa Road, Jerusalem
Claimed by
Fatah and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Days after UN Resolution 3379
3 days

By the Numbers

13
Date of attack
7
Deaths
42
Injured
3days
Days after UN Resolution 3379

Location

Map of Jerusalem, IsraelMap of Jerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, Israel

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Arab militants affiliated with Lebanon-based Palestinian groups placed a bomb in a baggage cart in central Jerusalem. The attack was reportedly timed to coincide with the anniversary of Yasser Arafat's 1974 speech to the United Nations, occurring three days after the passage of UN General Assembly Resolution 3379.

Event

On 13 November 1975, the bomb exploded outside an ice cream parlor in Zion Square on Jaffa Road, Jerusalem. Six teenagers — three boys and three girls — were killed that night, a seventh victim died the next day, and 42 others were injured. Victims and bystanders were treated at Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Consequence

Both Fatah and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility. The Palestinian news agency Wafa described it as a successful operation, inflating the casualty figures. Historian Richard J. Chasdi attributed the attack specifically to Fatah and noted its deliberate symbolic timing relative to Arafat's UN speech anniversary.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19751975197219731974197619771978EuroBasket 1975 — 1975 edition of the FIBA EuroBasket1975 Cricket World Cup — 1975 World Cup in EnglandEurovision Song Contest 1975 — 20th edition of the Eurovision Song ContestSection of the Big Island of HawaiiConstitution of Greece — fundamental law of Greece, in effect since 19741975 Formula One season — sports season1975 Copa América — 1975 edition of the Copa América association football competition1975–76 UEFA Cup — 5th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFAzion-square-ice-cream-shop-bombing-1975