The IDF prosecution on Thursday filed an indictment in the Judea Military Court against Muntasir Shalabi for the alleged murder of 19-year-old Yehuda Guetta in a drive-by-shooting terror attack at Tapuah Junction on May 2.
Shalabi, 44, was also indicted on two other attempted murder counts due because two other 19-year-olds were wounded in the attack.
The indictment was filed after evidence was gleaned by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police.
Five other Palestinians have also recently been indicted for obstruction of justice by providing Shalabi with a hiding place during the initial manhunt and all five are being kept in police custody until the conclusion of their trials.
An additional suspect is also expected to be indicted shortly for harboring Shalabi in his efforts to avoid authorities.
Shalabi was eventually arrested in the town of Silwad.
A resident of Jerusalem, Guetta was a student in the Itamar Yeshiva. He is survived by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
“Yehuda in the last few days, we worried as you fought for your life, we prayed from the depths of our hearts that you would overcome your wounds, and across the entire country we begged for your recovery, but this morning, to our great sorrow, these prayers have turned to a eulogy,” the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, said solemnly at Guetta’s funeral on May 6.
“Our hearts are broken – but our spirits are strong,” Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said, calling on the government to establish a settlement near Tapuah Junction in Guetta’s memory.
“I send sincere condolences to Yehuda Guetta’s family,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said within minutes of hearing of the young man’s death.
“These are difficult moments for the Guetta family and the entire nation of Israel shares in your sorrow,” he said.
“My heart goes out to the Guetta family who lost Yehuda tonight, only 19-years-old, who was shot during the heinous terrorist attack at the Tapuah Junction,” a statement by Defense Minister Benny Gantz read.
Tovah Lazaroff and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.