Bar Ilan Math Professor Indicted for Planning Mass Murder of Arabs

Prosecutors have filed an indictment against a Bar Ilan University mathematics lecturer, approximately 60 years old, from Petah Tikva, who allegedly planned to carry out a radical, murderous plan against hundreds of Israeli Arab citizens, including Bedouins, as well as Arabs residing in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The indictment, filed with the Central District Court in Lod, states the accused, motivated by nationalist-ideological reasons, conceived and planned the operation, which he called "E"T", an acronym for "A People Will Perform a Transfer." The Central District Prosecutor's Office charges him with preparing for an act of terror under the Counter-Terrorism Law, extortion by threats, and obstruction of justice, and is seeking his detention until the legal proceedings conclude. A gag order is currently in effect on his name.

The indictment details that against the backdrop of the "Guardian of the Walls" riots and later, the "Swords of Iron" war, the accused decided to plan and execute numerous simultaneous terror attacks, aiming to kill hundreds of Israeli Arab citizens, including Bedouins, across the country, as well as Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The goal was to cause their permanent flight and expulsion to Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. For over three years, from early February 2023 until his arrest two weeks ago, he developed a detailed plan he named "E"T", "A People Will Perform a Transfer." To advance this plan, he undertook various preparatory actions, including reconnaissance, drafting documents outlining the operation and its justifications, and attempting to recruit operatives.

According to the plan, 72 Jewish attackers, at least half of whom possess firearm licenses, including himself, were to be divided into 12 terror cells of six individuals each. These operatives would arm themselves with various weapons and launch surprise mass terror attacks in mixed cities and Arab towns throughout Israel. The plan also envisioned support from subversives recruited from within the IDF, including bombing Arab population centers by the Air Force, Artillery Corps, and Armored Corps. The indictment states that in a practical aspect of the plan, titled "How to Do E"T" Here and Now," the accused provided instructions for public participation in "mass murder, rapid takeover of friction zones, roads, entrances/exits to Arab communities, mixed cities, and hospitals... do not pity even their cruel and disgusting women and children, do not stop at pleas, harden hearts, any pause will lead to an unbearable situation of chaos and then a massacre of Jews."

The simultaneous mass terror acts, amplified by real-time social media dissemination, were intended to trigger the flight of all Israeli Arab citizens, including Bedouins, and Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, out of Israel. To further his plan, he spent about a year and a half trying to recruit supporters without success. He also conducted reconnaissance near the town of Tuba-Zangaria to identify optimal approach and attack routes for the settlement, which he intended to make a primary target. He also attempted to recruit Moshe Feiglin, a candidate for the 26th Knesset, to his plan, seeking his help in recruiting additional operatives. The accused planned to invite potential recruits to a "Zeut" party event, where he would inform them they were enlisted for a terror attack the following day, providing them with detailed operational instructions. He attended two public events held by Feiglin, attempting to arrange a meeting and present a summary of his plan, but Feiglin did not respond to his overtures. About a month ago, facing the approaching elections, the accused wrote Feiglin an extortion letter criticizing his lack of cooperation and threatening to release the letter, thereby causing Feiglin public damage before the elections, if he did not cooperate. Two days later, he delivered the extortion letter to Feiglin's home via a neighbor. He also delivered copies of the extortion letter and another threatening letter to the CEO of the "Zeut" party at an event.

Throughout his actions, the accused employed various concealment and disruption methods to avoid capture. He wrote all documents and letters by hand, used coded instructions to prevent identification of participants, wore disguises such as protective masks, hats, and sunglasses during meetings with potential recruits, used aliases, and employed payphones to contact associates. The prosecution noted that the accused's actions, spanning several years, stem from a radical and murderous ideology, posing a clear and immediate danger to individuals, the public, and the state, especially given the current security tensions.