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Right-wing activist Noam Federman and security guard Eli Federman haven't spoken in years.
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| By Debbie Berman May 26, 2002 |
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The quick actions of security guard Eli Federman prevented a major terrorist attack at a Tel Aviv nightclub on Thursday night. Hours later, his brother Noam Federman was brought into a Jerusalem court for a hearing that extended his remand orders on charges that he was involved in the planning of terror attacks against Israeli Arabs. The two brothers haven't spoken in years.
Eli Federman, 36, was on guard outside the Studio 49 club when he noticed a car racing towards the club entrance. "Instinctively I threw three people aside, took out a pistol with my other hand, and fired a shot," Federman said. "The terrorist fell into the car as it blew up. After the explosion, I shot some more bullets at his head."
Following his efforts to thwart the attack, Federman received praise and honors from President Moshe Katsav and other high-level officials. Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishky told Federman, "The nation of Israel salutes you for the manner in which you acted." Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer added, "It is to the credit of people like you that the citizens of Israel can carry on with their routine lives and even go out and enjoy themselves. This is the best answer to terror."
Despite all the attention, Eli Federman reported to work on Friday night, to stand guard again at the entrance to Studio 49. "I am not afraid that they will be back. This time I will also be ready," he said. He added his opinion regarding IDF operations against Palestinian terrorism. "We should launch another army operation. We have to catch [terrorists] in Jenin, not when they are here in Tel Aviv."
Federman served in the Golani 12th Battalion, and later fought in Lebanon. After his army service, he lived in Thailand for many years, where he married and became an expert in Thai kickboxing. He returned to Israel with his family two years ago, settling in the city of Modiin.
Noam Federman denies Jewish underground involvement
While his brother was being flooded with congratulations and awards, Noam Federman was still being held by Police and undergoing interrogations by the Shin Bet over his connections to the members of the alleged Jewish underground. The group is accused of planting an explosive device near a school and hospital in the A-Tur section of east Jerusalem. Indictments in the case are expected early this week.
According to media reports, police suspect Noam Federman, a right-wing activist and former spokesman for the now outlawed Kach party, of being the mastermind of the bombing attempt.
Over the weekend, Federman denied his involvement in the Jewish underground, but added, "I cannot condemn these things when the blood of babies is being spilled in the streets."
Federman has been frequently arrested and called in for questioning by the Police and the Shin Bet. Charges have been filed against him 45 times, though only 8 ended in convictions. Police suspect that bombs that exploded in Federman's wife's car in Kiryat Arba last year actually belonged to him, and were not planted there in a Palestinian terror attack.
In the past Federman has called for taking revenge against Arabs, encouraging settlers to go out and fight. "You should know that if the IDF does not protect you, you must protect yourselves, you must go out and shoot," Federman said to Beit El settlers.
Mother Rina - proud of both sons
"I'm proud of both of my children," said Rina Federman, a right-wing activist who has participated in Women in Green demonstrations. "Noam is actually a great patriot, who does everything to save Israel. Eli chose to live many years abroad. Eli is a hero, but I am not ashamed of Noam."
The two Federman brothers have been estranged since childhood, when they were raised in Jerusalem's Talpiot neighborhood. Their father was a hard-line nationalist, a member of the Etzel underground group. He was arrested by the British and deported to Ethiopia, where he shared a cell with Yitzhak Shamir, then a member of the Stern Gang and decades later Israel's prime minister.
When questioned, Eli refused to disclose the source of the conflict with his brother. "It's not about politics; it's personal, only because of individual privacy and family honor I will not go into detail. My relationship with Yasser Arafat is like my relationship with my brother Noam. To say that we don't see eye to eye is an understatement."
But speaking with Channel One television, Eli was much harsher. "I am one of his greatest enemies; for me he is not a brother. We haven't spoken in 28 years. He does not interest me; he didn't serve in the army, and not even in the civil defense. I know some unpleasant, non-political, things about him."
Rina was unable to pinpoint why and when the bad blood began to flow between the brothers. "I think Eli is carrying around a feeling of rejection, after all these years," she said, pointing out that when their father died, Eli remained abroad, and only Noam was at her side to support her through the difficult loss.
"Eli doesn't want to be connected with his brother Noam," a Kach activist told Yediot Aharonot. "They haven't had a relationship in years so it's understandable that he would want no part in events involving the Police, the Shin Bet and the media."
According to Elisheva Federman, her husband Noam said that he was glad that no Jewish blood had been spilled when his brother prevented the Tel Aviv attack, but showed no emotions beyond that.
Regarding a possible reunion of the two brothers, their mother Rina says: "I would like to see them re-establish a warm, brotherly, relationship. On the other hand maybe its best if they don't speak, that the situation remain as it is."
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