The State Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday filed an indictment against Asaf Israel Arye, 28, of Beersheba, who is suspected of agreeing, for payment, to attack former Knesset member Mossi Raz, arming himself with a knife and pepper spray and going to Raz’s home. He was later also asked to pass along the address of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
According to the indictment filed by attorney Oread Shalew of the Central District Prosecutor’s Office, Arye contacted a man named Avi via Instagram.
Avi presented himself as an activist in a right-wing organization looking for people to carry out paid tasks “for the good of saving the people.”
At first, Arye was asked to print out a flyer and distribute it, but he replied that he had previously served prison sentences and could carry out “more serious jobs,” including stabbing and arson.
According to the indictment, Arye even priced different actions, including stabbing, setting a car on fire and attacking with pepper spray, and negotiated with Avi over the amount of payment and when it would be received.
Arye agreed to attack MK Raz for compensation
Arye later agreed to carry out a violent act against Raz.
The two agreed that he would hit Raz or spray him with pepper spray, document the attack, and receive 8,000 shekels in return.
That same day, according to the prosecution, Arye traveled from Beersheba to Lod, bought a burner phone and equipped himself with pepper spray and a knife. He left his personal phone with a friend in an effort to make identification more difficult, and then went to the city where Raz lives.
When he reached near the former MK’s home, he photographed the area several times and sent the photos and videos to Avi using the burner phone. He then said he would not harm Raz as planned, he claimed, because police vehicles were nearby.
The suspects used digital currencies and Telegram for their criminal scheme
Several days later, Arye was asked, for payment, to send Avi the address of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
For carrying out the tasks, he received a total of about $1,000 through a digital wallet, according to the indictment.
Arye then smashed the burner phone and deleted his Telegram conversations with Avi, in an effort to destroy evidence. He was arrested in Lod with a knife in his possession.
The indictment charges him with conspiracy to commit a felony, destruction of evidence, possession of a knife, and additional offenses.
The prosecution asked that he remain in custody until the end of the proceedings against him. The investigation was carried out by the Shin Bet and the Central District police’s major crimes unit.