Jason Odeh Convicted of Aggravated Murder of Yelena Greenberg in Rehovot

The Central District Court in Lod convicted 34-year-old Bat Yam resident Jason Odeh (Blaze) of the aggravated murder of 27-year-old Yelena Greenberg in Rehovot, four years after the crime. The court rejected Odeh's defense claiming he was in a blackout state and lost control during the incident. Greenberg's body was found in an open area near the Kfar Gvirol neighborhood in August 2022. According to the indictment, Odeh and Greenberg were acquaintances who spent time together over four years, during which Odeh repeatedly sought to turn their friendship into a romantic relationship, which Greenberg refused.

Days before the murder, Odeh decided to kill Greenberg and burn her body, preparing with a knife and gasoline bottles. Two days later, he drove Greenberg from her home in Rishon LeZion to various locations in Rehovot. On the way to her sister's apartment, Odeh stopped at a train station parking lot, stabbed Greenberg multiple times in the neck, back, and hands, causing her death. He then placed her body on the ground in an open area, poured gasoline over her but did not set it on fire, and returned home. During the drive, he discarded both his and Greenberg's mobile phones.

Lily Ben Ami, CEO and founder of the Michal Sela Forum, responded to the verdict, calling it a significant moment for Greenberg's family and Israeli society. She emphasized the judiciary's responsibility to send a clear message of zero tolerance for femicide, especially within intimate relationships, warning against leniency that could undermine deterrence. Ben Ami highlighted the ongoing epidemic of domestic violence, noting a 47% surge in family murders since the start of the Iron Swords war, with 77 victims including 68 women and six children. The forum and the Welfare Ministry have provided active protection to over 1,000 threatened women and nearly 3,850 at-risk children, underscoring the state's duty to invest in prevention, deterrence, and protection to prevent further tragedies like Greenberg's.