Terrorist who murdered Rabbi Shai Ohayon charged with murder

The Palestinian terrorist who killed Rabbi Shai Ohayon in an attack in Petah Tikva two weeks ago was charged with murder on Monday.

According to the charges, the terrorist, named as Khalil Doikat, decided to kill an Israeli citizen or soldier by stabbing them "for Palestine, the Palestinian people, Al-Aqsa and God," according to Maariv, The Jerusalem Post's sister paper. He then took a knife from the kitchen at the construction site, put in his pocket and began looking for a victim. At 1:15 pm, he ran into Ohayon and stabbed him three times.

A passerby who witnessed the incident threw an object at the terrorist in an effort to help Ohayon. The terrorist then took the bloody knife, put it back in his pocket and walked away from the scene while considering attempting to stab additional Jewish Israelis. Police then arrived at the scene and arrested him.

The prosecutors submitted a request to arrest the suspect on the grounds that he was being charged with a crime that warrants a life sentence.

"[This was] a crime done with severe violence, cruelty and with a cold weapon. There are strong, very reasonable grounds for concerns that he will endanger the security of the public and the state," wrote the prosecutors. "In light of the seriousness, nature and character of his actions; their fatal and murderous outcome; their reference to any Jewish Israeli passer-by; and the underlying political, religious, nationalist or ideological motive, there is a very reasonable basis for fearing an endangerment of public safety."

The terrorist "did not express any empathy, remorse or sorrow in relation to the victim or his family members" during his questioning, added the prosecutors, according to Maariv.

Ohayon, a 39-year-old father of four, was found unconscious near the Segula Junction with multiple stab wounds two weeks ago and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The 46-year-old Palestinian suspect, who holds an Israeli work permit, was arrested by police shortly afterward with a bloodstained knife apparently used in the attack. He was handed over to the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

The suspect worked on a construction site in Petah Tikva.

According to reports, the suspect suffers from mental disorders and had been treated by health officials in the Palestinian Authority. He had no history of terror activities and did not belong to any terror group.