Man Charged with Murder of Rabbi Amos Guetta in Netanya Expresses Extreme Regret

A 36-year-old man was indicted on Thursday at the Lod District Court for the murder of Rabbi Amos Guetta, head of a yeshiva in Netanya, earlier this month. The indictment accuses him of aggravated murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a knife. Rabbi Guetta, who was physically disabled and dependent on others for care, was attacked in his home on July 1. The suspect, a former occasional yeshiva attendee, allegedly took a 21-centimeter kitchen knife, concealed it, and arrived at the rabbi’s house early that morning.

According to the indictment, the suspect asked the rabbi’s caregiver, Yaakov Mizrahi, for permission to enter the room under the pretense of praying. After initially refusing, Mizrahi allowed him to recite a chapter of Psalms. The suspect then suddenly stabbed Rabbi Guetta multiple times in the abdomen, intending to kill him. Mizrahi tried to intervene and was injured in the struggle, but the attacker continued stabbing the rabbi three more times before fleeing. Mizrahi chased him to the door, where the suspect threatened him with clenched fists before escaping.

The suspect was interrogated four times. Initially, he refused to speak verbally, communicating through gestures and spelling out words on a wall. He admitted to stabbing the rabbi, claiming a delusional motive involving a malevolent spirit. In later interrogations, he denied harming the caregiver and insulted the rabbi, calling him a "false messiah." When asked if he regretted his actions, he shockingly said he regretted not causing more severe harm. The prosecution requested his continued detention pending trial, citing evidence including the caregiver’s identification, the suspect’s partial confessions, DNA on the knife, and security footage.

Rabbi Guetta, 75, was a well-known spiritual leader in Netanya, running a yeshiva that attracted many students, including those seeking personal or financial help, and individuals with troubled backgrounds. Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, mourned him as a unique role model and spiritual beacon for the city. He expressed hope for comfort for the rabbi’s family and community and an end to violence in the land.