To help pay for his college fees Bitar worked as a clerk at the Chief Secretary 's office in Jerusalem . The British had chosen the King David Hotel as their headquarters in a secure zone , thus requiring a pass to enter . On July 22 , 1946 , the King David Hotel was bombed by members of Irgun — a terrorist Zionist organization . Adi was in the building when the bomb exploded and was saved only because his elder brother Bahij ; who also worked there , insisted that Adi was buried alive under the rubble . It took two hours to reach him and he was found alive with two broken arms and two broken ribs and with many bruises all over his face and body . It took several weeks for his injuries to heal
bombed
King David Hotel bombing
Adi Bitar