Israeli Military Charges Palestinian Militant in 2007 Murder of Ido Zoldan

The Military Prosecution in Judea and Samaria filed an indictment on Thursday against Shadi Jumaah for the murder of Ido Zoldan in November 2007. Jumaah had been detained by the Palestinian Authority and was recently released, but was re-arrested in central Qalqilya during a joint operation by the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Duvdevan Unit 33.

According to the indictment, on November 19, 2007, Jumaah met with Diaper Ahmed Omar Barham and Abdallah Abd Alatif Ali Barham to carry out a shooting attack on a main road. The three militants drove around searching for vehicles driven by Israelis and agreed to confirm their victims were Jewish before shooting. Near the village of Funduq and the settlement of Kedumim in western Samaria, they spotted a gray-silver Subaru driven by Zoldan. After confirming his identity, Abdallah overtook Zoldan’s car, and from close range, Diaper fired at him, killing Zoldan.

Following the attack, the militants fled to the village of Qaddum. Jumaah was initially arrested by the Palestinian Authority but was released. After his release was discovered, Israeli forces decided to prosecute him. On May 26, during a combined operation, Jumaah was captured in Qalqilya and interrogated by Shin Bet until the indictment was completed.

Ido Zoldan, 29, was a resident of Shavei Shomron, married with two young children. A former resident of Homesh, he served as a paratrooper officer and worked as a construction laborer, believing Jews should build the land. His father, Nachman Zoldan, was a prominent settler contractor. Ido was active in efforts to rebuild Homesh after its evacuation and was regarded by neighbors as a dedicated and idealistic figure. Shortly after the attack, the "Army of the Gospel" faction of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility, but it was soon revealed the attackers were three 22-year-old Palestinian police officers. Two were arrested by the IDF on the night of the attack, and Jumaah was detained later by Palestinian security forces. The IDF affirmed its commitment to apprehend all members of the cell responsible for Zoldan’s murder.