Israel arrests 2 for murder of IDF soldier

Israeli security forces arrested the murderers of IDF soldier Ron Kokia. 

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Israel’s security forces on Saturday arrested two suspects who are believed to be the terrorists who murdered IDF soldier Ron Kokia.

Kokia was stabbed to death on Thursday while waiting for a ride in the southern city of Arad. His service weapon was stolen.

The Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) stated Monday that the investigation and evidence point to the fact the incident was an act of terrorism.

The Shin Bet identified the two suspects only as “residents of the Negev.” This most likely means the two are Bedouins, who reside in the Negev.

Security officials have warned that the Bedouins have become radicalized and that some of them have begun to adhere to the Islamic State (ISIS) ideology.

Israeli security forces have exposed several incidents of Bedouins joining ISIS-inspired terror elements, including four Bedouin teachers working in the Israeli school system in southern Israel who were arrested in July 2015 for distributing ISIS propaganda among their students and other educators in the Negev town of Hura.

The Shin Bet said that one of the suspects in the Kokia murder case implicated himself during his questioning and subsequently led the forces to where the stolen weapon was being hidden.

A gag order has been placed on all other details pertaining to the investigation.

Kokia was laid to rest on Sunday at Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery in Tel Aviv.

AradBedouinShin Bet