18 may 2020
Police apprehend 41-year-old woman from Rishon Lezion, who reportedly suffers from mental problems; the woman's mental health worsened after surviving a deadly terror attack 18 years ago; last year she was arrested for desecrating grave of dead husband
Police on Monday arrested a woman suspected of desecrating the gravesite of an IDF soldier just days after he was killed in a West Bank raid last week.
It was reported Thursday that the grave of 21-year-old First Sgt. Amit Ben Yigal, in the military cemetery in the southern region of Be'er Yaakov, had been vandalized, only two days after he was buried.
At the end of a four days long manhunt, police detained the 41-year-old Rishon Lezion resident, who is reportedly suffering from a mental illness.
According to police, the suspect became religious and turned ultra-Orthodox after surviving a suicide bombing in Jerusalem 18 years ago, which claimed many lives.
The woman began developing mental problems after the incident. Last year she was arrested for a similar incident after she desecrated the grave of her deceased husband.
Police said the incident stemmed from the woman's worsening mental health condition rather than a criminal or nationalist intent, as feared initially.
Sources said during the police manhunt, the woman did not have her cellphone with her while and she did not contact anyone she knew, so investigators had difficulty locating the suspect.
"I feel sorry for her," said Barch, Ben Yigal's father. "A normal person wouldn't do such a thing. It wouldn't do me any good to get mad, whoever did this needs to get therapy."
Police have obtained footage apparently showing the woman desecrating for several hours the grave of an IDF soldier, killed last week in a West Bank raid, Ynet has learned on Sunday from sources familiar with the matter.
The IDF issued a statement last Thursday saying that excavation marks had been found on the gravesite, just two days after the soldier's funeral.
Ben Yigal’s family was updated immediately and his father arrived at the cemetery accompanied by army officials shortly after.
Military rabbinate representatives also arrived at the scene to make sure that the honor of the fallen had not been desecrated.
The suspect was also arrested last year for a similar act after desecrating the grave of her deceased husband. Police have ruled out criminal or nationalist causes, as initially feared.
"In light of the incident, we have decided that the grave will be sealed and Golani soldiers will guard the area,” the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said. "Any attack on the dignity of fallen soldiers must be condemned. The IDF and the police are working to investigate the incident," it added.
"Defense Ministry personnel have been guarding Staff Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal's gravesite ever since we became aware of the incident," read a statement.
"The ministry expresses shock and disgust at the act and has been accompanying the Ben Yigal family and providing them with all the necessary support and assistance."
Security forces are still conducting a manhunt for the rock thrower who killed Ben Yigal when he and his comrades were conducting arrests of four terror suspects in the village of Ya'bed.
Police on Monday arrested a woman suspected of desecrating the gravesite of an IDF soldier just days after he was killed in a West Bank raid last week.
It was reported Thursday that the grave of 21-year-old First Sgt. Amit Ben Yigal, in the military cemetery in the southern region of Be'er Yaakov, had been vandalized, only two days after he was buried.
At the end of a four days long manhunt, police detained the 41-year-old Rishon Lezion resident, who is reportedly suffering from a mental illness.
According to police, the suspect became religious and turned ultra-Orthodox after surviving a suicide bombing in Jerusalem 18 years ago, which claimed many lives.
The woman began developing mental problems after the incident. Last year she was arrested for a similar incident after she desecrated the grave of her deceased husband.
Police said the incident stemmed from the woman's worsening mental health condition rather than a criminal or nationalist intent, as feared initially.
Sources said during the police manhunt, the woman did not have her cellphone with her while and she did not contact anyone she knew, so investigators had difficulty locating the suspect.
"I feel sorry for her," said Barch, Ben Yigal's father. "A normal person wouldn't do such a thing. It wouldn't do me any good to get mad, whoever did this needs to get therapy."
Police have obtained footage apparently showing the woman desecrating for several hours the grave of an IDF soldier, killed last week in a West Bank raid, Ynet has learned on Sunday from sources familiar with the matter.
The IDF issued a statement last Thursday saying that excavation marks had been found on the gravesite, just two days after the soldier's funeral.
Ben Yigal’s family was updated immediately and his father arrived at the cemetery accompanied by army officials shortly after.
Military rabbinate representatives also arrived at the scene to make sure that the honor of the fallen had not been desecrated.
The suspect was also arrested last year for a similar act after desecrating the grave of her deceased husband. Police have ruled out criminal or nationalist causes, as initially feared.
"In light of the incident, we have decided that the grave will be sealed and Golani soldiers will guard the area,” the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said. "Any attack on the dignity of fallen soldiers must be condemned. The IDF and the police are working to investigate the incident," it added.
"Defense Ministry personnel have been guarding Staff Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal's gravesite ever since we became aware of the incident," read a statement.
"The ministry expresses shock and disgust at the act and has been accompanying the Ben Yigal family and providing them with all the necessary support and assistance."
Security forces are still conducting a manhunt for the rock thrower who killed Ben Yigal when he and his comrades were conducting arrests of four terror suspects in the village of Ya'bed.
13 may 2020
Despite coronavirus regulations in place during Lag BaOmer, hundreds of Haredi worshipers try to break into northern Israel holy tomb, smashing down doors and hurling stones at police
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men broke into the sacred compound at Mount Meron in northern Israel on Tuesday evening, defying police orders limiting entry to the site due to coronavirus and prompting clashes with security forces, which resulted in more than 300 being arrested.
Celebrations are typically marked with enormous crowds, dancing and the lighting of bonfires. video
The government this year put strict limitations on the number of people who could visit the site for the holiday, which began Monday night and ended Tuesday evening.
The festivities on Monday night were highly subdued, with attendance limited to 150 people.
Footage from the site showed numerous men breaking down the door to the compound and forcing their way into the gravesite of Bar Yochai, shortly after police took down many of its checkpoints as the holiday neared its end.
According to a police spokesman, the incident was carried out by “30 to 40 extremists” and police soon arrived to remove them from the site.
The spokesman said that some of the ultra-Orthodox worshippers threw water bottles and stones at the police, and additional video footage from the site showed scuffles and physical confrontations between riot police and worshippers at the site, including calling officers “Nazis.”
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis marked the holiday in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh with large assemblies despite bans on public gatherings of more than 20 people due to the pandemic.
The ultra-Orthodox community has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said earlier this week that around 70% of the country's more than 16,500 confirmed cases were ultra-Orthodox, who make up around 12% of Israel's population.
Israel started easing restrictions on movement and gathering earlier this month. Israel has reported 260 deaths from COVID-19. Some two thirds of those infected in Israel have already recovered.
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men broke into the sacred compound at Mount Meron in northern Israel on Tuesday evening, defying police orders limiting entry to the site due to coronavirus and prompting clashes with security forces, which resulted in more than 300 being arrested.
Celebrations are typically marked with enormous crowds, dancing and the lighting of bonfires. video
The government this year put strict limitations on the number of people who could visit the site for the holiday, which began Monday night and ended Tuesday evening.
The festivities on Monday night were highly subdued, with attendance limited to 150 people.
Footage from the site showed numerous men breaking down the door to the compound and forcing their way into the gravesite of Bar Yochai, shortly after police took down many of its checkpoints as the holiday neared its end.
According to a police spokesman, the incident was carried out by “30 to 40 extremists” and police soon arrived to remove them from the site.
The spokesman said that some of the ultra-Orthodox worshippers threw water bottles and stones at the police, and additional video footage from the site showed scuffles and physical confrontations between riot police and worshippers at the site, including calling officers “Nazis.”
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis marked the holiday in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh with large assemblies despite bans on public gatherings of more than 20 people due to the pandemic.
The ultra-Orthodox community has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said earlier this week that around 70% of the country's more than 16,500 confirmed cases were ultra-Orthodox, who make up around 12% of Israel's population.
Israel started easing restrictions on movement and gathering earlier this month. Israel has reported 260 deaths from COVID-19. Some two thirds of those infected in Israel have already recovered.
11 may 2020
According to the indictment, Matan Lugassi, 22, spotted a random 17-year-old teen on a street, brutally beat him, dragged him to an abandoned building and sexually assaulted the boy for over 2 hours, before robbing him and fleeing the scene
A 22-year-old Israeli man was on Monday sentenced to 21 years in prison for a brutal assault and rape of a 17-year-old boy two years ago.
Matan Lugassi, 22, has also been ordered by the Tel Aviv District Court to pay a compensation to the teen in the amount of NIS 100,000 for the acts committed in March of 2018.
He was convicted in September of 2019 on charges of rape, sodomy and robbery. The name of the victim and the exact location of the attack is currently under a gag order.
According to the indictment, the intoxicated Lugassi spotted the random teenager on the streets of one of the central cities. He approached the youth, began brutally hitting the boy and led the disoriented teen to an abandoned building, where he committed a brutal rape that lasted over two hours.
During the assault, the man threatened the teen and hit him several times. He then took his cellphone, his debit card and ordered the victim to follow him to the nearest ATM machine, where the boy withdrew the cash from his account and handed it to the defendant.
The indictment says Lugassi then told the teen he would be waiting for him near the ATM the following day at 2pm. The teen then made his way home, where his parents called the emergency services and alerted the police. The man was arrested shortly after the police opened an investigation.
Judges Gilad Nuitel, Limor Bibi and Tali Haimovich in their sentencing statement called the crime “shocking in its wickedness and cruelty.”
“The abuse lasted for over two hours despite the pleas of the battered and bloodied victim, the defendant didn’t show a flicker of compassion or humanity, which warrants the punishment given.”
“No punishment will heal the scars inflicted on the victim and his family and all that remains is to encourage, embrace and support him,” said the victim’s lawyer Alon Shlicht. “We would also like to thank the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office for the professionalism and humanity shown toward the victim and his family.”
Attorney Roi Sherman, who reprsents the defendant, said he regrets that the court "chose to ignore the evidence proving the defendant's innocence."
He said the defendant intends to appeal the sentencing.
A 22-year-old Israeli man was on Monday sentenced to 21 years in prison for a brutal assault and rape of a 17-year-old boy two years ago.
Matan Lugassi, 22, has also been ordered by the Tel Aviv District Court to pay a compensation to the teen in the amount of NIS 100,000 for the acts committed in March of 2018.
He was convicted in September of 2019 on charges of rape, sodomy and robbery. The name of the victim and the exact location of the attack is currently under a gag order.
According to the indictment, the intoxicated Lugassi spotted the random teenager on the streets of one of the central cities. He approached the youth, began brutally hitting the boy and led the disoriented teen to an abandoned building, where he committed a brutal rape that lasted over two hours.
During the assault, the man threatened the teen and hit him several times. He then took his cellphone, his debit card and ordered the victim to follow him to the nearest ATM machine, where the boy withdrew the cash from his account and handed it to the defendant.
The indictment says Lugassi then told the teen he would be waiting for him near the ATM the following day at 2pm. The teen then made his way home, where his parents called the emergency services and alerted the police. The man was arrested shortly after the police opened an investigation.
Judges Gilad Nuitel, Limor Bibi and Tali Haimovich in their sentencing statement called the crime “shocking in its wickedness and cruelty.”
“The abuse lasted for over two hours despite the pleas of the battered and bloodied victim, the defendant didn’t show a flicker of compassion or humanity, which warrants the punishment given.”
“No punishment will heal the scars inflicted on the victim and his family and all that remains is to encourage, embrace and support him,” said the victim’s lawyer Alon Shlicht. “We would also like to thank the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office for the professionalism and humanity shown toward the victim and his family.”
Attorney Roi Sherman, who reprsents the defendant, said he regrets that the court "chose to ignore the evidence proving the defendant's innocence."
He said the defendant intends to appeal the sentencing.
4 may 2020
Two Israeli nationals, suspected of defrauding several French companies with a false promise of a coronavirus vaccine, will be extradited to France, the authorities said Monday.
The two Ra'anana natives who hold French passports, are accused of impersonating senior business executives who defrauded three companies in France of some 60,000 Euros. The pair allegedly claimed they have run successful trials for a COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, they are alleged to also have attempted to illegally sell protective medical gear needed to fight coronavirus, to several chain stores in France.
After receiving information from authorities in France, the police's special investigations' unit, Lahav 433, arrested the pair and opened an expedient investigation against them.
In an unusual step, police investigators filed the international extradition order against the two before the investigation was even completed.
Normally, suspects in similar circumstances are released under house arrest and only after evidence is formulated for an indictment, an extradition order is authorized, a process which sometimes takes months and even years.
In this case, Israel Police along with INTERPOL and French enforcement authorities decided to hasten the process, with the two currently under arrest in Israel, awaiting their extradition to France.
"This case is a first of its kind," said one Israel Police official. "This is part of the continued effort to fight international criminals, who are trying to hide [within the country] after committing their crimes outside [Israel's] borders."
The two Ra'anana natives who hold French passports, are accused of impersonating senior business executives who defrauded three companies in France of some 60,000 Euros. The pair allegedly claimed they have run successful trials for a COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, they are alleged to also have attempted to illegally sell protective medical gear needed to fight coronavirus, to several chain stores in France.
After receiving information from authorities in France, the police's special investigations' unit, Lahav 433, arrested the pair and opened an expedient investigation against them.
In an unusual step, police investigators filed the international extradition order against the two before the investigation was even completed.
Normally, suspects in similar circumstances are released under house arrest and only after evidence is formulated for an indictment, an extradition order is authorized, a process which sometimes takes months and even years.
In this case, Israel Police along with INTERPOL and French enforcement authorities decided to hasten the process, with the two currently under arrest in Israel, awaiting their extradition to France.
"This case is a first of its kind," said one Israel Police official. "This is part of the continued effort to fight international criminals, who are trying to hide [within the country] after committing their crimes outside [Israel's] borders."
14 apr 2020
Jewish settlers believed infected with coronavirus today attacked Palestinian villages in the Jordan Valley and set two vehicles on fire, according to Israeli media.
They said that settlers from the terror group known as “Youth of the Hills”, who were quarantined in an army post in the Jordan Valley after they were suspected to contracting the deadly coronavirus disease, escaped from their post and attacked Palestinian civilians in the area with stones and teargas and set cars ablaze.
The soldiers reportedly later arrested the vandals.
They said that settlers from the terror group known as “Youth of the Hills”, who were quarantined in an army post in the Jordan Valley after they were suspected to contracting the deadly coronavirus disease, escaped from their post and attacked Palestinian civilians in the area with stones and teargas and set cars ablaze.
The soldiers reportedly later arrested the vandals.
