The body of seventy-year-old Elkana resident Reuven Schmerling HY”D was found in his place of business, in the Israeli Arab municipality of Um el-Fahm on erev Sukkos. He had been stabbed and beaten to death and placed in a locker.

The government earlier this week announced it was recognizing his murder as an act of terrorism. Defense Ministry officials made the announcement, which they explain was based on the findings of the Shin Bet murder investigation.

At the time of the murder, the Shin Bet was unwilling to state definitively that the murder was an act of terror, indicating it may have been motivated by a business dispute.

The levaya took place on erev Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos, and the family released a statement to the media, calling on the relevant agencies to recognize the murder as an act of terror.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)