Shahar Nevo, 59, was named on Wednesday as the mathematics professor at Bar-Ilan University accused of plotting terror attacks against Palestinians and Arab-Israelis.
On Monday, the State Attorney’s Office indicted Nevo for allegedly planning a series of mass terrorist attacks motivated by nationalist ideology against hundreds of Palestinians and Arab-Israelis.
Authorities did not immediately release his name because of a court-issued publication ban, which expired on Wednesday.
The goal of Nevo’s plan, according to the indictment, was forced mass transfer. He named his plan AYT, a Hebrew acronym for Am ya’aseh transfer, which translates as, “The people will carry out transfer.”
Nevo’s vision was to simultaneously activate terrorist cells in different locations across Israel, led by 72 individuals – including Nevo himself. They were to be divided into 12 cells of six people each and use a variety of weapons, including handguns, rifles, axes, and hammers.
Mixed cities, Arab Israeli communities intended targets
The intended targets were mixed cities and Arab communities across the country.
Bar-Ilan University immediately suspended Nevo, and already on Monday said that it “condemns in the strongest possible terms” and is “deeply appalled by the acts” attributed to Nevo. The university called on authorities to “pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law, should the allegations be substantiated.”
It added, “The University has, and will continue to have, zero tolerance for conduct of this nature – conduct that is fundamentally incompatible with the values we share as Jews, as Israelis, and as human beings, and that stands in clear opposition to the values” of the university.
According to the indictment, the plan was to instruct members of the public to join in “carrying out mass killings and rapidly seizing areas of friction, roads, entrances to and exits from Arab communities, mixed cities, and hospitals… Do not show mercy even to the women or their cruel and repulsive children; do not stop in the face of pleas; harden your hearts. Any pause will lead to an intolerable state of chaos, followed by the massacre of Jews.”
Attacks intended to cause Arabs to flee Israel
According to the plan, the simultaneous mass terrorist attacks, which were to be amplified and publicized on social media in real time, were intended to cause all Arab citizens of Israel, including Bedouin, as well as Palestinians living in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, to flee or be permanently expelled to Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip, according to the indictment.
For about a year-and-a-half, he tried to recruit supporters to join him, with no success. He sought out Zehut chairman Moshe Feiglin – No. 2 on the joint Religious Zionist Party-Zehut electoral list – intending to enlist him and, with his help, recruit more activists.
Nevo attended public events that Feiglin appeared at, tried to arrange a meeting with him, and even left the politician a threatening letter, which he later threatened to circulate. He claimed that its publication would harm Feiglin’s image ahead of elections.
Nevo was charged in the Central District Court in Lod with preparing to commit an act of terrorism, extortion by threats, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors asked the court to keep him in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings against him. A hearing in the case is scheduled for later this month.