Three 'Palestinian police officers' indicted for murder at Joseph's tomb
Just days after they were released from a 'Palestinian prison' for 'shooting in the air,' three 'Palestinian police officers' have been indicted for murdering Ben Yosef Livnat HY"D (May God Avenge his blood) and wounding five others at Joseph's tomb in 2011.
Ben Yosef Livnat was killed and five Israelis were shot and wounded at Joseph’s Tomb at Nablus two years ago.
Security
forces at the time named the three West Bank residents in custody as
Nuaf Auda, 24, Wael Dauod, 24 – both armed PA patrol officers at the
time of the incident – and Tarki Zuara’a, 23, who was an unarmed
driver.On May 22, the IDF and Shin Bet arrested three men after they
were released from the PA’s custody. They had been incarcerated for two
years after being convicted only of firing in the air during the
shootings.
The Shin Bet said two additional Palestinians – a
patrol unit commander and an additional patrol officer – were involved
in the shooting. The commander is still in a PA jail for his role in the
shooting, while the officer has gone into hiding in a PA security
building.
“During questioning, the suspects confessed to firing on
Israeli vehicles despite the fact that their lives were not at risk,”
the Shin Bet said.
The investigation found that one of the bullets
fired by the patrol officers killed Livnat. Livnat was a father of four
from Elon Moreh and a nephew of Culture and Sports Minister Limor
Livnat.
Before their questioning by the PA, the suspects
coordinated their accounts of the incident to give the impression that
they were under attack, the Shin Bet said.
After the shooting, the
suspects placed rocks on the road leading to the tomb, to back up their
testimony that they had come under a rock attack and that they fired in
self-defense, it added.
The cover-up continued inside a PA prison, where the suspects were held after the shooting, the Shin Bet said.
The
prison’s chief injured one of the suspect’s leg, with the suspect’s
consent, to provide further “evidence” that the Palestinian officers had
been wounded by the Israelis.
“The investigation is still
ongoing. After its completion, the investigation’s findings will be sent
to Judea and Samaria District prosecutors for an indictment against the
suspects,” the Shin Bet said.
According to the report, it is still unclear when a final hearing will be held to remand the suspects until the end of the proceedings. The sooner the better. If these guys are released, we will never see them again.
This morning 15 MKs from 5 different political parties came together in an historic visit to Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem. This cross-party visit was arranged by Gershon Mesika, the Governor of the Shomron Region and a long-time advocate of Jewish rights of worship at holy sites across Judea and Samaria, and in coordination with Israeli and PA security forces. This momentous occasion – the first such visit during daytime hours in many years (since 2000) – has only been made possible through Mr. Mesika’s tireless efforts to secure the right of worship for Jews at Joseph’s Tomb since taking office 3 years ago.
Yaakov David Ha'ivri - Director of the Shomron Liaison Office said: "Today’s visit is made all the more significant in that it comes merely a month and a half after the murder of Yoseph Livnat, a religious Jew who was killed by Palestinian Authority forces whilst making his way to the Tomb, unarmed, with the intent to peacefully worship at the site. Today’s event sends a clear message that the Jewish people clings fiercely to its Holy Sites and will continue to do so in spite of the violent and often murderous attempts of our enemies to break the bond between the people of Israel and their land."
IDF probe concludes 'Palestinian police' tried to murder Jewish worshipers but may not have planned in advance
An IDF probe has concluded that 'Palestinian police' purposely tried to murder Jewish worshipers outside Joseph's tomb in Shchem (Nablus) last month, although they may not have planned to do so in advance. The incident, in which Ben Yosef Livnat HY"D (may God avenge his blood) was murdered, has been classified as a terror attack.
The group illegally entered Nablus without firstly coordinating the visit with the IDF as stipulated by law. Nablus is Area A territory, under Palestinian control and therefore off limits to Israeli citizens. The four Palestinian policemen were immediately placed under arrest by the Palestinian Authority which is continuing to investigate the shooting.
Last week, the Defense Ministry official recognized Livnat as the victim of a terrorist attack enabling his family to receive compensation from the state.
The results of the IDF probe, released on Sunday, did not find evidence that the Palestinian policemen had planned the attack but did conclude that the gunfire was intentional and aimed at killing the group of Jews who had infiltrated into the area near the tomb. The PA policemen opened fire, Gantz said, without justification and when their lives were not in danger.
And you can bet that the PA policemen will soon have town squares in 'Palestine' named after them.
Four days before Ben Yosef Livnat HY"D (May God avenge his blood) was murdered outside of Joseph's tomb in Shchem (Nablus), he led a group of 30 Breslov Hasidim to the tomb. Tagging along was YNet reporter Akiva Novick, who filed this report.
The fear kicked in a few moments after crossing Hawara checkpoint. The dogs barking behind you and the green lights of the mosques ahead indicated we were on our way to Nablus, the so-called "terror capital."
Everything in this city makes you feel unwelcomed. The graffiti on the walls, Shahid ("martyr") posters hanging in the streets. You are frightened even when driving with five other people in a small car, singing aloud.
...
Around 30 Breslov Hasidim met in a spring located south of Nablus, in the West Bank. This is their semi-secret meeting place where they gather to bathe before the journey begins.
It was nearly 2 am on Thursday. The group's last visit to Nablus before the fatal shooting incident which claimed Livnat's life – and I was along for the ride. We stood by the spring with our six vehicles. In the valley below us we spotted an IDF force at Hawara checkpoint, in charge of preventing worshipers from entering the holy city.
Our group leaders, including Livnat, huddled around and came up with a plan to mislead the soldiers. It was decided that one car would attempt to pass the checkpoint with its lights turned off, to see whether the IDF actually blocked off the entrance. It was now 2:55 am.
...
Livnat broke the law when he entered Joseph's Tomb without authorization, but that is not the reason he was killed. It is deeper than that. Joseph's Tomb is a sensitive subject in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Livnat was killed because he was part of the battle to control the holy site. Everybody wants to renovate it, preserve it – but those who try the hardest are the Breslov Hasidim, and Livnat was one of their most vigorous standouts.
On our way to Jerusalem we passed by the Palestinian town of Awarta, where the Fogel family killers came from. We entered. It turned out this is where Aaron's sons, Ithamar and Eleazar, are buried as well as the seventy Elders.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
