Bar-Ilan University Lecturer Indicted for Planning Mass Terror Attack

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed a severe indictment against a Bar-Ilan University mathematics lecturer, aged around 60, from Petah Tikva. The indictment alleges that for years, the lecturer planned a terror attack targeting hundreds of Arab civilians in Israel. According to prosecutors, the defendant acted out of nationalistic-ideological motives and developed a plan he called "Ayat," an acronym for "A People Will Do Transfer." The plan aimed to carry out simultaneous terror acts, causing the deaths of hundreds of Arab citizens, including Bedouins, and Arabs from East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The indictment states the defendant began formulating his plan during the "Guardian of the Walls" riots and intensified his activities after the outbreak of the "Swords of Iron" war. For over three years, from February 2023 until his arrest two weeks ago, he allegedly planned an attack intended to cause the flight and expulsion of Arabs from Israel into Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip. Preparatory actions included site surveys, writing detailed documents, and attempting to recruit operatives. He surveyed the village of Tuba-Zangaria to assess access and attack routes, identifying it as a central target.

According to the plan, 72 Jewish activists, including himself, were to divide into 12 terror cells of six people each. These cells were to be armed with handguns, rifles, axes, and hammers, launching surprise attacks in mixed cities and Arab villages. The indictment also claims the defendant sought assistance from within the IDF, including bombing Arab population centers using the Air Force, Artillery Corps, and Armored Corps.

Alongside the attacks, the defendant planned to broadcast the acts on social media in real-time to encourage the Arab population's flight from the country. In his attempts to recruit collaborators, he allegedly sought to involve Moshe Feiglin, the leader of the Zehut party, to help recruit more activists. The defendant attended two events where Feiglin was present and tried to arrange a meeting, but Feiglin did not respond. About a month before his arrest, the defendant wrote a letter threatening to release it and cause public damage to Feiglin if he did not assist in advancing the plan. He delivered this letter through intermediaries and gave copies to the CEO of the Zehut party at an event.

The indictment further details the defendant's concealment and disruption tactics to avoid detection. He avoided using computers, wrote documents by hand, created instructions to hide identities, and wore a hat, sunglasses, and mask during meetings. He allegedly used a pseudonym and burner phones to contact potential recruits. The prosecution stated that the defendant's ideology led to the detailed planning of a large-scale attack, posing a clear and immediate danger to the public. The investigation was conducted by the Central District Special Patrol Unit of the Israel Police.