Yaakov Teitel in court
Photo: Yaron Brener
Teitel to be charged with first degree murder
Other charges against settler labeled 'Jewish terrorist' include malicious damage with explosives, incitement to racism. Court remands his arrest by three days, during which indictment will be served
Police announced Tuesday that Yaakov Teitel, who has been dubbed a 'Jewish terrorist', will be indicted soon on charges of first degree murder, malicious damage with explosives, and incitement to racism.
The Petah Tikvah Magistrates' Court remanded Teitel's arrest by three days, during which the indictment against him must be served.
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Teitel made the famed 'V' sign upon entering the courtroom for his arraignment, and refused to answer questions by the press. However when asked whether he was afraid he shook his head.
Attorney Adi Keidar, who represents Teitel, claimed during the hearing that his client was being held in a Shin Bet cell rather than a regular prison cell, that his hands and feet were kept bound 24 hours a day, and that he had been allowed to change clothes only twice since his arrest.
A police spokesman argued that these decisions were made by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and that the police were not involved. He said the defendant was kept tied up due to suspicions that he intended to take his own life.
The court ordered the IPS to respond to Keidar's claims within three days.
Following the hearing Keidar was asked regarding reports that his client had been operated by the Shin Bet in the past. He said he was unaware of such a history.
The attorney added that Teitel had been found psychologically capable of standing trial by a court psychiatrist.
Early last week the court cleared for publication that 37-year old Yaakov Teitel, from the settlement of Shvut Rachel, was suspected of terrorizing Palestinians, leftists, and members of the LGBT community for many years.
Police and the Shin Bet claim Teitel was responsible for the murder of two Palestinians, rigging an explosive device that injured Professor Zeev Sternhell in 2008, and sending a package of explosives that injured a teen from Ariel, also in 2008. They are also investigating whether Teitel was involved in an attack that killed two police officers in the Jordan Valley in March.
