A US federal judge has recused himself from the trial of a Palestinian Arab accused in connection with a terror attack in Israel.
District Judge Paul Borman recused himself from the case Tuesday on the grounds that he had just learned his family had shares in the supermarket the defendant helped bomb.
Borman only discovered the name of the supermarket when it was revealed by the defendant’s defense attorney on Monday, which is why he had not recused himself prior to that time, he said.
The defendant in the case is Rasmea Yousef, 67, currently associate director of the Arab American Action Network in Chicago.
Yousef is also known as Rasmieh Odeh, is accused of immigration fraud — lying about her role in the a 1969 terror attack in order to gain acceptance as an immigrant to the United States.
Released by Israel in a prisoner swap years ago, she was convicted on two charges of murder in connection with the bombing at the Jerusalem SuperSol supermarket in February 1969.
Two men were killed and 20 others were wounded in the attack.