Justice Dept. to Offer $1-Million Reward in Fatal 1985 Bombing Case
Hoping to crack an 11-year-old case, U.S. Department of Justice officials said this week they will offer a $1-million reward for information that helps solve the bombing death of Alex Odeh, a prominent Palestinian American activist.
The western regional head of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was killed in an explosion at his Santa Ana office the day after appearing on television to condemn terrorism and defend PLO leader Yasser Arafat as “a man of peace.”
A ceremony to formally announce the reward will be held Tuesday in Santa Ana next to a statue honoring Odeh. Justice Department spokesman John Russell confirmed the reward offer, but law enforcement officials would not discuss why they decided to offer $1 million so long after the crime.
Odeh’s brother Sami, a real estate agent in Orange, said the local Arab community has raised a separate $100,000 reward fund.
In Middle East politics, Odeh had been regarded by many as a moderate; a rabbi was among the speakers when a nine-foot bronze statue of Odeh was unveiled two years ago outside Santa Ana’s main library.
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