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Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski: Accord Arab Jerusalemite terror victim status
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| By israelinsider staff May 15, 2007 |
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Julian Soufrir, a 26-year-old Tel Aviv man who immigrated from France, is accused by police of murdering an East Jerusalem taxi driver, Taysir Karaki, 35, on Monday.
The police became suspicious of Soufir, who had signs of blood on him, and his brother, as they walked in the middle of a street near the Tel Aviv beachfront. In response to a request for identification, Soufir told the police that he had "done something in the apartment," and asked them to accompany him there, where they found the victim lying dead inside.
Police said the victim's throat had been slit a few hours before the body was found. His taxi was parked outside.
Police extended Soufir's remand and also that of his 21-year-old brother, whom they believe came to the apartment shortly after the murder and remained with the alleged killer until the two were apprehended. However, they do not believe that the brother took part in the crime.
Police believe that the suspect, who is newly religious, had no prior acquaintance with the victim. "Therefore, at the crime scene itself we began to suspect that this might be a case of murder stemming from nationalistic motives," said Chief Superintendent Avi Neuman, a Yarkon region detective.
Soufir told police, "I decided to murder an Arab." The suspect apparently went to Jerusalem on Monday morning to find an Arab taxi driver to murder. He entered the victim's taxi in Jerusalem and asked to be driven to Tel Aviv. "When they arrived, the suspect persuaded the victim to come up to the apartment," apparently with an offer to use the bathroom before going home, Neuman said. The suspect then allegedly attacked the victim with a knife he had prepared ahead of time.
The suspect rented the apartment with his wife two months ago, but they are now separated. Police were called to Soufir's Tel Aviv apartment about a month ago after his wife complained that he had attacked her. The suspect's mental stability was questioned during that incident and he was sent to Abarbanel mental hospital for evaluation, but was released shortly after.
At the remand hearing, Soufir's attorney argued that the suspect is unfit to stand trial. "As far as we understand, he can't differentiate between good and bad, makes things up and speaks to ghosts and demons that control his life," he said.
Police, however, claim that the suspect "knew exactly what he was talking about when he described the event, and his memory was good. He also supplied a logical explanation for his actions."
Soufir is scheduled to unergo a psychiatric evaluation prior to standing trial.
Karaki's father, Yasser Karaki, told Haaretz that his son, who was married and the father of four children ages six to 12, had driven the children to school and set off for work at 8:30 A.M. "He was a good guy, he was not involved in politics; all he wanted to do was make a living for his children," the elder Karaki said.
Arab Knesset Member blame Israeli "racism"
MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) blamed the Right for incitement against Palestinians, for raising murderers and for condoning violence against Palestinians.
Some Arab Knesset member sought to score political points. "This murder blends in with the condoning of Palestinian bloodshed and the fact that hurting them is legitimate," said Hadash Chairman MK Mohammad Barakeh. "Unless we find a political solution resulting in two states for two peoples, I'm afraid we'll see more of this."
MK Said Napa (National Democratic Assembly), who recently took Azmi Bishara's place as MK said the "demonization and incitement against the Arab public give this kind of act its legitimization. Turning words into actions was just a matter of time." Bishara is a fugitive and may face capital charges due to allegedly helping Hezbollah during last summer's war.
Meanwhile, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky said that he would ask that Karaki be treated as the victim of a terror attack so that his family could have the higher benefits associated with that status.
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