Bar-Ilan Lecturer Charged with Planning Mass Murder Seeks Release

A Bar-Ilan University lecturer, accused of planning to murder hundreds of Arabs, has requested his release from custody, arguing he is fit to stand trial and not a danger. The lecturer, whose name is currently withheld at his lawyers' request, faces charges including preparation for a terrorist act, extortion, and obstruction of justice. The indictment alleges that motivated by nationalist-ideological reasons, particularly in the wake of the 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" riots and the October 7th attacks, he devised a detailed plan called "Ha'Ayit" (The Eagle), meaning "the nation will carry out a transfer." The plan involved 72 Jewish terrorists, divided into 12 cells, armed with various weapons, to carry out simultaneous mass attacks in mixed and Arab towns across Israel. The scheme also envisioned support from within the IDF, including air force and artillery strikes on Arab population centers, and real-time dissemination of propaganda online to incite broader participation. The lecturer allegedly prepared extensively for this plan, including reconnaissance of specific locations like Touba-Zangariyya and gathering information. He also drafted a 20-page document outlining the ideological justifications and operational details for the attacks, which included instructions for mass killings, expelling Arabs, and showing no mercy to women and children. He reportedly began recruiting for the plan in 2025 and sought to involve a significant political figure, later identified as Moshe Feiglin, though Feiglin reportedly refused to cooperate. The lecturer also approached former security personnel, media figures, academics, and activists, and even asked his daughter to connect him with "Hilltop Youth" activists, but failed to gain support. He is also accused of writing a critical letter to Feiglin, threatening to expose him if he did not cooperate. During his meetings, he allegedly used disguises and aliases to conceal his identity. The prosecution believes the chance of him being found unfit to stand trial is slim, and he has confessed to the charges, with substantial evidence linking him to the alleged actions.