Rabbi Amos Guata, a well-known kabbalist from Netanya, was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning at the entrance to his synagogue in the northern part of the city. Israeli media reports the motive is suspected criminal; police are investigating.
Rabbi Amos Guata, a prominent kabbalist and community leader in Netanya, was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning outside his synagogue on Shimon Bar Yohai Street in the northern part of the city. Police suspect a criminal motive and are investigating; no arrests have been reported as of 07:44 Jerusalem time. The attack is the third murder within an hour in Netanya on Wednesday, following earlier shootings in the city and in Yagur, which police are tracking as a possible wave of criminal violence in Arab and mixed communities.
Initial reports from Channel 12 at 06:14 described a 70-year-old man critically wounded in a stabbing on Shimon Bar Yohai Street; medics evacuated him to Laniado Hospital while performing CPR. Subsequent versions that same minute identified the victim as a prominent rabbi in his 70s, and by 06:14, police confirmed a criminal motive in the investigation. The victim was later identified as Rabbi Amos Guata, a well-known kabbalist. Source quality progressed from a single news channel to corroboration across Israeli media outlets.
Netanya Mayor Avi Salma eulogized Guata as a "great light and pillar of Torah and kindness" in a statement, as The Zioneer reported earlier. The murder has drawn comparisons to the stabbing of Rabbi Elazar Abuhatzeira, whose memorial is approaching in two weeks.
The circumstances leading to the attack remain unconfirmed. Police have not disclosed any suspects or a specific motive, and the investigation is ongoing.
11 developments
- StrongChief Rabbi Bar eulogizes slain Netanya kabbalist Amos Guata
- StrongShas party announces sudden passing of prominent Netanya rabbi Amos Guata
- DevelopingPalestinian Youth Arrested in Anata on Suspicion of Planned Revenge Attack; Weapons Seized
- DevelopingPolice arrest two suspects from Tur'an in stabbing case
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