Police solve murder of Yigal Yehoshua in Lod riots
The Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) on Sunday said they have solved the murder of Yigal Yehoshua, who was killed last month during riots in Lod.
Yehoshua, 57, died after rocks were thrown at his car on May 11 during Operation Guardian of the Walls.
Six Arab residents of Lod and two Palestinians from the West Bank have been arrested in recent weeks on suspicion of involvement in the lynching, the authorities said.
The State Attorney’s Office on Sunday said it intends to indict seven of the suspects for murder. It requested to hold the suspects in custody until the end of proceedings against them.
A court on Sunday extended the arrest of the suspects until Thursday.
The men are suspected of throwing rocks for nationalistic and racist motives at cars driven by Jews. The men allegedly gathered near a roadblock set up by Arab youth, identified Yehoshua as Jewish and pelted him at close range.
Yehoshua managed to drive home, where he was found by a passerby in his car and taken to a hospital. He was admitted in serious condition and succumbed six days later.
The investigation indicated that some of the suspects were involved in other serious incidents in Lod that involved throwing stones at Jews. Some of them were suspected of attempting to destroy evidence of the attack on Yehoshua.
“I am very happy they caught them,” Yehoshua’s widow told Ynet. “Nothing will bring back Yigal, but at least they found the murderers.”
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett congratulated the Shin Bet, police and security forces for catching the suspects.
“Let every enemy and terrorist who tries to hurt us know that the State of Israel will put their hands on every wrongdoer sooner or later and will mete out justice.”
The Lod residents who were arrested are Muhammad Hassuna, 33; Khaled Hassuna, 51; Karim Bhalul, 20; Yussef Alkadayim, 21; Walid Alkadaim, 25; and Iyad Marachla, 20.
The West Bank residents who were arrested are Ahmen Danun, 25; and Kamal Dif Alla, 21.