JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Western Wall security guard who shot and killed a homeless Jewish man while on duty has been charged with murder.
Jerusalem District Court on Thursday indicted Hadi Kabalan in the June 21 murder of Doron Ben Shlush.
Kabalan, a 25-year-old Border Police officer from the Druze village of Beit Jann who was new to the job at the Western Wall, claimed after the shooting that Ben Shlush had shouted “Allah hu akbar” (“God is great”) in Arabic and tried to pull an object from his pocket near the public bathrooms before the guard fired his sidearm more than 10 times.
But an investigation reportedly found that Ben Shlush yelled “Druze, you son of a bitch” at the security guard before Kabalan shot him at close range.
According to reports, Ben Shlush lived or volunteered at the Chabad House near the Western Wall and was well known by Kotel security.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
