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CNN Live At Daybreak

Look at Israel's New Heroine

Aired June 18, 2002 - 06:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A few weeks ago, a woman in Russia driving alone near Moscow, when she noticed a sign along the road that read, "Death to Jews." She thought it was repulsive, so she got out of her car and she pulled down the sign. Well it was booby-trapped, and it exploded in her face.

CNN's Matthew Chance picks up the story from Israel, where the woman is now receiving treatment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She is Israel's new heroine. A Russian Christian who stood up against anti-Semitism in her own country and paid a heavy price. She now gets strangers visiting just to say, "Thanks."

"It's extraordinary," this Israeli woman tells her. "I doubt many others would have acted like you. We are grateful."

But Tatiana Soponova almost lost her sight to that booby trap sign outside Moscow. She told me she did the only thing a decent person could.

TATIANA SOPONOVA, BOMBING VICTIM: I (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I usually (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and I think many people in Russia did the same.

CHANCE: And even though she may be scarred for life, she says she has no regrets.

(on camera): Why did you stop, though? When other people -- why did you feel it was your responsibility to stop?

SOPONOVA: Because it's my country and I have a responsibility -- I feel a responsibility for my country. And I think you feel the same. You live in your country and you love your country. You -- everybody wants that your country will beautiful.

CHANCE (voice-over): A Jewish community group in Russia organized her treatment here, bringing her mother and four-year-old daughter to Israel as well. Israeli medical staff say they've seen and treated wounds like Tatiana's all too often in the past.

DR. ARIE ORNSTEIN, TEL HASHOMER (ph) HOSPITAL: I see too many. This is a very common injury in our neighborhood, all the terrorist acts here. I think there's too many patients in this situation and much worse than that. And you have to bear with these situations (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's nothing new for us.

CHANCE: From her hospital bed, Tatiana says she's been overwhelmed by the attention the people of Israel have given, receiving gifts and thanks and kindness from a country that feels it shares in her pain.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Tel Aviv, Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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