BICOM

Israel’s internal security service (Shin Bet) announced on Sunday that they had arrested two Palestinians on suspicion of the murder of Reuven Schmerling in the Kafr Qassem industrial zone last week, which they believe was a terrorist attack.

The two suspects were arrested in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the IDF in the town of Kabatiya, seven kilometres south of Jenin in the northern West Bank. They are still being questioned and their identity is subject to reporting restrictions. The evidence collected by the Shin Bet led them to conclude that this was a terrorist attack carried out for nationalist motives.

Following the news of the arrests, Schmerling’s family said: “The family wishes to thank the security forces for the great efforts that were invested in such a short amount of time.”

Schmerling was found dead near his family-run charcoal-manufacturing plant last Wednesday. Shortly after, his family said it had “no doubt” that the killing was an act of terrorism. His body was discovered by one of his sons covered in stab wounds.

Schmerling’s daughter Idit was interviewed by Kan Radio on Sunday, and said that her father “was beloved by people,” did business with many people and therefore “it was clear to us from the beginning that this was not the result of a business dispute” but “that he was murdered for nationalist motives”. His family have been residents of the nearby Elkana settlement for the past 31 years. A funeral service was held at Elkana cemetery last Friday, where around 1,500 people attended. Mourners at the funeral wore t-shirts that had been specially designed in anticipation of Schmerling’s 70^th birthday, which fell on the day of his murder, reading: “A sign that you’re young. Celebrating 70 with Grandpa Motti.”

Since September 2015, 54 Israelis, a Palestinian man, two Americans, an Eritrean man and a British student have been killed in a wave of attacks by Palestinian assailants, mainly in stabbing, shooting and car ramming attacks.