Israeli Man Arrested on Return After Nine Years in Thai Prison

Eyal Bokel returned to Israel on Friday after serving nearly nine years in prison in Thailand, only to be immediately arrested on suspicion of threats and conspiracy to commit a crime. The police requested an extension of his detention, but the court ordered his release under restrictive conditions.

Bokel's return to Israel is linked to a prolonged bloody feud in Netanya, during which several people from both sides have been murdered over the years. Among the victims were Bokel's brother, David, and from the opposing side, Maor and Avi Malul. Sources familiar with the details estimate that the return of Bokel and others involved could reignite the conflict and lead to attempts at mutual harm, especially given the changes in Netanya's criminal landscape during their imprisonment.

Senior Judge Erez Nuri'ali determined that there was no reasonable suspicion to justify extending Bokel's detention, and that the two remaining investigative actions did not warrant keeping him incarcerated. The court ordered his release, a two-kilometer exclusion zone from Netanya until September 13, and a 30-day prohibition on contacting individuals involved in the case. The police did not appeal the release decision.