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Terror cell planned abduction prior to murder of IDF soldier

The Shin Bet revealed the full details surrounding the murder of IDF Sgt. Ron Kokia.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

The terror cell that murdered IDF Sgt. Ron Kokia in Arad at the end of November, while he was waiting at a bus stop, had planned an elaborate abduction plot, the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) revealed Friday.

Israeli forces arrested Khaled Abu Jaudah and Zahi Abu Jaudah, Israeli Bedouin citizens who reside in the Negev and who have no prior security record, a day after the attack.

Khaled confessed to murdering Kokia and stealing his service weapon. He said that Zahi served as his confidant and aided him after the attack.

Khaled identifies with terrorist organizations and holds extremist views, the Shin Bet said.

Khaled initially planned to kidnap a soldier in order to advance the release of Palestinian prisoners. To this end, he planned to use anesthetics to which he had access due to his work at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva.

He later decided to murder an IDF soldier in revenge for IDF actions in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip as well as stealing his weapon for use in future attacks.

Khaled purchased a vehicle with which to escape after the attack and set aside money for living expenses.

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In October and November, Khaled and Zahi, armed with a knife, drove around the Arad area and scouted possible sites to carry out their attack. On the evening of November 30, the night of the attack, driving around Arad, Khaled chose Kokia as his target, stabbed him to death and stole his weapon. He then met Zahi near the site of the attack. The two hid the stolen weapon, which they later turned in.

The State Attorney’s Office indicted both culprits on Sunday.