Israel Matzav

'Palestinian' terrorist who shot Yehuda Glick worked at Begin Center restaurant

Mu'taz (or Moataz) Hijazi, the 'Palestinian' terrorist who shot and severely wounded Temple Mount prayer activist Yehuda Glick outside the Begin Heritage Center on Wednesday night, didn't have to go very far to carry out his crime. Hijazi was employed at the Terasa restaurant, which is located inside the Begin Center having served time in prison on terror charges until 2012.

32 year-old Islamic Jihad terrorist Mu'taz Hijazi was released from prison in 2012, after serving 11 months for terrorism against Jews.

Upon his release, he made the following remarks in an interview shortly after his release:
"I am happy to return to Jerusalem. I wish to be a thorn in the throat of the Zionist plan to Judaize Jerusalem." 

Arutz Sheva reached out to the Terasa restaurant for clarification as to how a convicted terrorist could be employed there, but the restaurant refused to issue a response. 

Apparently Hijazi presented a good front, with multiple witnesses telling Arutz Sheva that they had encountered him in the past and that he had been, for all intents and purposes, civil. 

But it appears Hijazi had been leading a double life: the Israel Security Agency (ISA), or Shin Bet, is now stating (10:45 am IST) that Hijazi was likely responsible for August's shooting attack on a soldier near Hebrew University on Mount Scopus, after police found and examined the scooter used in both incidents. 

Hijazi had even specifically sought out Glick, checking extensively where and when he would be speaking before striking, according to Channel 10. 

Police are currently investigating how the restaurant could have missed Hijazi's criminal record before hiring him.

But JPost is reporting that Hijazi spent 11.5 years in prison - not 11 months - which makes the restaurant's hiring him even more shocking.

Begin Heritage Center spokesman Ofer Inbar said Hejazi worked in a privately-owned restaurant within the center and passed a background check before being employed.

“The restaurant does not belong to the Begin Center, so we have no idea about the personal details of the man, but we do know that people who work in the restaurant have to get a background check from the police first,” Inbar said.

“And we know that the owner of the restaurant got the OK to hire him.”

Hejazi was a kitchen hand at the center’s upscale Terasa, a gourmet mehadrin dairy restaurant.

Okay from whom?

Labels: Old City of Jerusalem, Palestinian terrorism, Palestinian terrorists, Temple Mount

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:35 PM