FBI Says It Has Suspects in Odeh Death : Jewish Extremists Blamed in Murder of Arab-American

A top FBI official told Congress today that the bureau has suspects but has not made any arrests in the bombing death last October of Alex Odeh, a prominent Arab-American leader in California.

Oliver Revell, the FBI’s executive assistant director, also said the U.S. government is working with Israeli police officials to determine whether Jewish extremist groups responsible for domestic terrorism have received any assistance from abroad.

Revell made his comments at a hearing of the House Judiciary subcommittee on criminal justice. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) called the meeting to look into possible discrimination against Arab-Americans.

‘Alarming Trend’

Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) said the hearing was vital because “we can no longer afford to ignore the alarming trend of discrimination and hostility toward Americans of Arab ancestry in this country.”

Of primary concern to Arab-Americans is domestic terrorism, particularly the Oct. 11, 1985, death of Odeh in Santa Ana, Calif., and other bombings. Odeh was West Coast regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Odeh, 41, a Palestine-born naturalized U.S. citizen, took the full force of the explosion when he opened the door to his office, and died two hours later. His wife said he had been receiving death threats since taking over the committee post in 1980, and 12 hours before the blast he had appeared on a local late-night news program.

Jewish Extremists Blamed

Revell assured the panel that the Odeh investigation was a top priority within the bureau, and added, “We have suspects in the case.” The FBI says Jewish extremists were responsible for the Odeh death, but has not identified them.

The Odeh bombing is linked to two other domestic terrorist attacks in 1985, Revell said, adding that the modus operandi in three incidents was similar. The two others occurred in New Jersey and New York.

Under questioning, Revell said he had no information about a report that Israeli defense officials had traveled to the United States to assist Jewish extremists.

Israeli Police Contacted

But he said Israeli police have been contacted by the FBI, which is trying to determine if Israeli citizens have helped Jewish extremists carry out terrorist incidents in the United States. The FBI has blamed Jewish extremists for four of the seven terrorist attacks in the United States in 1985.

Nathan Perlmutter, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith, issued a statement today deploring ethnically motivated violence against Arab-Americans.

He said the league has “vigorously condemned acts of intimidation or violence” against Arab-Americans.