Israel: reserve soldier arrested for attempting to murder Palestinian in Tel Aviv

An Israeli reserve soldier was arrested last month for attempting to murder a Palestinian passer-by in Tel Aviv, and was driven by racist motives, according to a joint statement from the police and Shin Bet security service released on Sunday.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the 34-year-old Israeli reservist left his home armed with his service weapon and went to Hamesila Park, allegedly with the sole intention of targeting an individual of Arab descent. After finding a potential victim, the suspect forced him to sit on a bench, where the Israeli then interrogated him while pressing the rifle against his body.

After confirming that the man was Arab, the suspect cocked his rifle and attempted to shoot him. However, the victim managed to deflect the weapon and escape unharmed, before reporting the incident to the police.

Moreover, according to the statement, the suspect continued searching for Arabs, asking passers-by for their whereabouts, before eventually giving up and returning home. The authorities arrested him on 15 August.

During the investigation, the suspect claimed that he fired a “deterrence shot,” but other testimonies contradicted his account. His detention was extended several times under a gag order while evidence was collected. A statement by prosecutors was submitted on 29 August and an indictment is expected shortly.

The police and Shin Bet emphasised the seriousness of racially-motivated threats against innocent people, particularly when carried out by someone entrusted with a weapon for national security purposes. Such acts, said the security agencies, are acts of terrorism.

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