Murder of Ari Fuld
LocationGush Etzion Junction, West Bank
Date16 September 2018

Ari Fuld, an American-Israeli who lived in the Israeli settlement of Efrat, was stabbed to death by a Palestinian at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank on 16 September 2018.[1][2][3]

Background

Ari Fuld, 45, was born in New York and immigrated to Israel in 1994. The married father of four lived in the Israeli settlement of Efrat. A Holocaust survivor's grandson, Fuld was a fourth-degree black belt who served in an elite unit in the Israeli paratroopers. He was well-known on social media for his pro-Israel advocacy, and worked for an organization that supports Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. He was known to give care packages to IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza.[4][5][6]

The murder

On 16 September 2018, while waiting outside of a shopping mall at the Gush Etzion Junction, Fuld was stabbed in the back by 17-year-old Palestinian named Khalil Yusef Ali Jabarin.[7] Mortally wounded, Fuld chased Jabarin, jumped over a small wall, and his legs buckled.[1] After righting himself, Fuld pulled his gun and shot Jabarin. Security video footage showed that Fuld chased and fired at Jabarin before collapsing.[8] Fuld was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.[7] Jabarin was taken to a hospital and survived.[9]

Fuld was credited with possibly saving the life of a mall employee when he stopped the terrorist, who ran at the woman with his knife drawn. The employee said that Fuld is "not just a hero. He gave his life for me.”[1]

Funeral

Thousands of people attended Fuld's funeral in Kfar Etzion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Fuld's family before the funeral and later tweeted, "I embraced [the family] in the name of the entire nation in this time of terrible grief. We are alive thanks to heroes like Ari. We will remember him forever.”[10][11]

House demolition

It was first reported that Jabarin's mother, from the village of Yatta, informed Palestinian and Israeli security forces that Jabarin planned to carry out a terrorist attack.[12] However, in court it was revealed that his mother came to the checkpoint searching for her son and that she did not inform the soldier why.[13]

The day after Fuld's murder, IDF soldiers raided the Jabarin home to map out the building and prepare it for demolition.[14][15] The IDF released a statement that they will destroy the Jabarin's home in order "to act determinedly to prevent terror attacks and to deter terrorists".[16] The Jabarin family appealed the demolition, but Israel's Supreme Court rejected the appeal.[17] The home was ultimately blown up by the IDF.[18]

Arrest and trial

Jabarin was arrested for murder, three counts of attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed weapon. The Judea Juvenile Military Court ordered that he remain in custody until the end of the trial.[19]

Jabarin was convicted of Fuld's murder in January 2020 after a closed trial.[20] He was sentenced to life in prison, the Fuld family was awarded 1.25 million shekels ($365,000) in damages.[21]

Pay for Slay

It was reported that the Palestinian Authority will pay Jabarin's family NIS 1,400 (nearly $400) a month for three years.[22] An anti-"Pay for Slay" law had earlier been passed in Israel to stop such financial support, however the Jerusalem Post reported that the law had yet to be implemented.[23][22][24][25]

Reactions

Retired British army officer Richard Kemp said that Fuld was "a soldier to the last".[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fatally wounded, Ari Fuld prevented terrorist from stabbing falafel shop worker". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  2. ↑ Mickolus, Edward (2019-02-21). Terrorism Worldwide, 2018. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7940-2.
  3. ↑ Samsonov, Gil (2020-02-20). Netanyahu and Likud's Leaders: The Israeli Princes. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-64046-9.
  4. ↑ Maza, Cristina (2018-09-17). "Who was Ari Fuld? American pro-Israel activist was fatally stabbed near a West Bank mall". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  5. ↑ Lazaroff, Tovah (17 September 2018). "Israel mourns Ari Fuld - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  6. 1 2 "Terror victim Ari Fuld mourned as 'larger than life' hero, champion for Israel". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  7. 1 2 Goldstein, Yoni (2018-09-17). "From Yoni's Desk: How Ari Fuld gave new life to Israel advocacy". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  8. ↑ Onyanga-Omara, Jane (17 September 2018). "American-Israeli fatally stabbed by Palestinian teen in occupied West Bank". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  9. ↑ Sugarman, Daniel (October 23, 2018). "Palestinian indicted for the murder of Ari Fuld, Israeli father of four". The Jewish Chronicler. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  10. ↑ Eglash, Ruth (September 17, 2018). "U.S.-born Israeli citizen killed in terrorist attack is hailed by Netanyahu as a hero". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Thousands attend funeral for terror victim Ari Fuld, who is remembered as a hero". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  12. ↑ "Terrorist's family: We warned authorities of his intentions". Israel National News. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  13. ↑ Khoury, Jack (2019-01-18). "Israeli Army Demolishes Home of Terrorist Who Killed Israeli-American in West Bank". Haaretz. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  14. ↑ Julian, Hana Levi. "No More Appeals: Supreme Court OK's Demolition of Ari Fuld's Killer's Home". Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  15. ↑ Ahronheim, Anna (17 September 2018). "IDF maps home of Fuld's killer for demolition". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  16. ↑ "IDF to destroy the house of the terrorist who murdered Ari Fuld". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  17. ↑ Julian, Hana Levi. "No More Appeals: Supreme Court OK's Demolition of Ari Fuld's Killer's Home". Jewish Press. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  18. ↑ Liphshiz, Cnaan (18 January 2019). "Israel destroys home of Palestinian teen who killed Ari Fuld". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  19. ↑ Bob, Yonah Jeremy (29 October 2018). "Court orders Ari Fuld accused murderer jailed until end of trial". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  20. ↑ Bob, Yonah Jeremy (January 6, 2020). "Palestinian convicted in murder of Ari Fuld". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Murderer of Ari Fuld Sentenced to Life in Prison". The Media Line. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  22. 1 2 Hoffman, Gil (18 September 2018). "PA to pay family of Fuld's murderer NIS 1,400 a month for 3 years". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  23. ↑ Hoffman, Gil (2 July 2018). "Historic anti-Pay for Slay bill passes into law". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  24. ↑ Bandler, Aaron (2018-09-18). "PA Reportedly Gives $3,350 to Family of Killer of Pro-Israel Activist". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  25. ↑ Tlozek, Eric (2018-09-27). "A Palestinian teen allegedly stabbed an Israeli ex-soldier to death. Now there's fury over 'pay to slay'". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
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