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It appears the recent shooting incident on an erev Shabbos in Machane Yehuda was the result of a machlokes over music.

When shots rang out during a busy Friday afternoon in the Jerusalem shuk initial reports spoke of a terrorist attack. Only a short time later as the details unfolded was it reported that an IDF soldier fired at one of the booth owners and one of the shots struck an Arab employee. That soldier has been arrested and now faces a multicount indictment.

According to a MyNet report, an argument broke out between booth owner Mrs. Esther Chaniyeh and the owner of a nearby pub Rami Erguani over the volume of the music he played. During the argument Mrs. Chaniyeh phoned two sons who live in Mevassert Tzion, Neor and Yaakov Cohen, asking them to come to the shuk immediately. In the interim, Rami continued working in his bar and DJ Yaniv continued playing music, loudly.

According to the indictment filed against Yaakov Cohen, he complied with mom’s request and headed directly to the shuk. When he arrived he pulled down the keyboard operating the musical equipment and speakers and then punched Yaniv the DJ in his face, breaking his eyeglasses. In a matter of seconds Erguani joined in, running towards them from the bar. Neor Cohen, a soldier in the IDF also joined in. He used his weapon to smash glasses and bottles on the bar.

Shortly thereafter, Esther’s husband Tiran arrived on the scene holding an iron pipe in his hand and he began striking Erguani in his head. According to the indictment, this is when Neor took a few steps back, cocked his weapon and pointed it at Erguani and Yaniv shouting “I am going to shoot”, and fired off one round. The bullet struck Erguani’ right thigh and struck three passersby as well.

The indictment adds that Erguani tried to flee but the brothers ran after him and Yaniv, throwing the chairs from the bar at them. They continued smashing property in the bar as well, including the speakers.

Esther, her husband and the brothers are all being indicted. The shooter is being held without bail.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)