A 35-year-old settler from Beit El has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a Palestinian boy during settler riots that raged in the West Bank last month in the aftermath of the murder of 14-year-old Israeli shepherd Binyamin Achimair, media reported on Friday.
Several Palestinians were killed during the riots, during which homes and cars were torched in several villages surrounding the area where Achimair’s body was found.
Riots erupted in the aftermath of the murder of 14-year-old Israeli shepherd Binyamin Achimair in April.
Several Palestinians were killed during the riots, during which homes and cars in several villages surrounding the area where Achimair's body was found were torched.
Five people were arrested a week ago on suspicion of rioting and inciting the riots.
The suspect is accused of murdering 17-year-old Omar Ahmad Abdulghani Hamed from the village of Beitin, just north of Ramallah. After his death, Hamas issued posters bearing his picture and the words “Our Martyr the Fighter.”
The suspect's details
The suspect is a married reservist from Beit El. Before the beginning of his hearing, he proclaimed his innocence and called his arrest “false.”
He accused the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) of orchestrating the arrest, because he refused to answer questions the agency had about settler activity in the area.
The suspect claims he was not told he was a suspect and, for that reason, did not call a lawyer until he had already been arrested.
The suspect claims he was not told he was a suspect and, for that reason, did not call a lawyer until he had already been arrested.
His lawyers said the only reason for his arrest was due to his vehicle being seen driving around the area where Hamed was murdered.
Police responded, saying that initially, he was not a suspect, but as the investigation developed, he became one.
Police requested that his extension be extended for 10 days in order to allow them to conduct a full investigation without interference from the suspect.
The judge gave the police a four-day extension, meaning the suspect will be released on Monday unless another extension is granted.
Giving his reasoning, the judge said, that “it appears from the material that there is reasonable suspicion. The suspect maintains his right to remain silent – which, although it is a fundamental right, has a particular significance.”