An indictment filed today by Israeli military prosecutors has laid bare the calculated and chilling motives behind the brutal murder of 14-year-old shepherd Binyamin Achimeir two months ago in Judea and Samaria. The accused terrorist, Ahmad Dawabsheh from the village of Duma, allegedly belonged to an ISIS-inspired cell that had been actively planning to kill Jews.
As reported by Israel Hayom, according to the indictment, about a year ago Dawabsheh began meeting with others who shared his extremist ideology.
"In their meetings, the accused and his friends discussed the meaning of jihad and the need to carry it out against infidels," the document states. It says Dawabsheh decided to murder Jews specifically, opting to use a knife because obtaining a firearm would be difficult.
The indictment provides a harrowing account of how Dawabsheh spotted the teenage Binyamin alone tending his flock on April 12th near the Malachei HaShalom outpost. Dawabsheh allegedly hid in bushes clutching a 20cm knife before ambushing the boy.
"The accused waved the knife, shouted 'I Will Kill You' at the deceased, and began to run after him," the indictment says. It describes how Benjamin desperately tried to flee and use his phone to call for help as the terrorist chased him down. Tragically, the document states, "The deceased got up and struggled with the accused until he was subdued."
After the brutal slaying, Dawabsheh allegedly scoured the area for more potential victims before returning to his village and burning his clothes to cover his tracks. Due to the horrific nature of the crime, a gag order has been issued on some of the specific details.
In addition to the murder and attempted murder charges, Dawabsheh is also accused of obstructing the legal process. Another member of the terror cell, Khatab Salawudeh, was charged with consulting on how to attack Jews and holding Dawabsheh's will penned before the murder.
The family of Binyamin Achimeir, represented by the legal advocacy group Honenu, is demanding the terrorist be tried before a court able to hand down a death sentence. "We must fight this enemy relentlessly, defeat it and eliminate it," their lawyer Haim Bleicher stated. "There is no place for these murderers on the face of the earth."
