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Israeli police capture Palestinian suspect for brutal murder of Israeli teen

Israeli police arrested a Palestinian suspect for the brutal killing of an Israeli teenage girl whose body was discovered on Thursday.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli police announced Saturday that a Palestinian suspect was arrested in Ramallah in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Israeli Ori Ansbacher, whose body was found in the woods near Jerusalem on Thursday with stab wounds.

She was buried Friday in Tekoa. Her funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners.

According to Israeli law enforcement, 29-year-old Palestinian Arafat Irfayia encountered Ansbacher south of Jerusalem and perpetrated a brutal attack on her, ultimately killing the Israeli teen.

While most details of the investigation are being withheld from the public under a court-imposed gag order, officials disclosed that Arafat was residing illegally in Israel, had served time in Israeli prison, and left his home in Hebron on Thursday with a knife, Times of Israel reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on Saturday evening, “For myself and for the entire people of Israel I would like to express condolences to the Ansbacher family and to support them during their terrible grief.”

“I commend the [Shin Bet] and Israel Police special anti-terror unit for apprehending – within a few hours – the abhorrent murderer of the late Ori Ansbacher. The long arm of Israel will reach whoever hurts us and we will settle accounts with them,” added Netanyahu.

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President Reuven Rivlin also commented on the developments on Saturday evening, saying, “[We] send our prayers of consolation to the Ansbacher family and to the whole community of Tekoa for the shining light that has been extinguished by a vile hand, and for the great void that Ori – good hearted and generous of spirit – leaves behind. May her memory be a blessing.”

Rivlin added, “Personally and on behalf of all Israelis, I would like to thank the security forces for capturing the despicable terrorist who murdered Ori Ansbacher.”

“We will seek out the perpetrators and their associates until we find them and punish them to the fullest extent of the law, in every place and wherever they hide from us,” he concluded.