Who was Alex?
Alex Odeh was born in Jifna, Palestine, a small village in the West Bank in 1944. While he was studying at Cairo University, the 1967 war broke out. Israel began a system of military occupation over the Palestinian territories and barred Alex, along with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, from returning home. He emigrated to the United States. In his adopted country, he became an activist to inform the American public about his people’s plight. Alex felt that the Palestinian perspective was misunderstood, but he believed in the power of communication. He joined the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, serving as its western regional coordinator. On the morning of October 11, 1985, Alex opened his office door. A tripwire bomb exploded. He died hours later. Alex is remembered as a peaceful person, a bridge-builder who engaged with the Jewish community. He was scheduled to speak at a local synagogue on the evening of the bombing. Alex’s murde...