Man from Ramla Charged with Murdering Lawyer in Rishon Lezion Over Financial Dispute

The Central District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment on Wednesday against Ahmad Al-Rajoub, 24, from Ramla, accusing him of aggravated murder of lawyer Arbel Feldman in his Rishon Lezion office, motivated by financial reasons. The indictment also includes charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, evidence destruction, and obstruction of justice. A request for continued detention until the end of proceedings was submitted alongside the indictment.

According to the indictment, Feldman had represented Al-Rajoub in civil proceedings against an insurance company following a car accident. Dissatisfied with the slow progress of a claim worth approximately 18,000 shekels, Al-Rajoub decided to kill his lawyer. On August 4, around noon, he arrived at Feldman's office on Moshe Levi Street in Rishon Lezion carrying a concealed loaded semi-automatic pistol and shot Feldman six times at close range in the upper body, head, and hand. After the shooting, Al-Rajoub fled the scene, discarded his phone and the weapon to hinder the investigation, and surrendered himself about two hours later at the Ashdod police station.

The investigation was led by the Central District Crime Unit. Feldman's law partner, who discovered the shooting and called emergency services, testified hearing gunshots and finding Feldman wounded and bleeding. Paramedics pronounced Feldman dead at the scene.

In the detention request, the prosecution highlighted Al-Rajoub's ruthless behavior and disregard for the law. Prosecutor Sarah Tal emphasized that attacking a lawyer acting on behalf of a client crosses a red line, severely harming the individual, their family, and the public interest in protecting lawyers who perform their duties fearlessly.

Following the murder, dozens of lawyers gathered outside the Tel Aviv District Court for a two-minute silence to honor Feldman and protest rising violence. Amit Bechar, head of the Israel Bar Association, called the incident a "black flag" and vowed to continue fighting to ensure lawyers' safety and uphold the rule of law.