Father, son commit suicide within hours of each other

An Israeli man and his son committed suicide on Thursday within hours of each other.

The son, Ron Ben-Hur (31), took his own life in a settlement near Ma’ale Adumim in the West Bank. Upon hearing of his son’s death, the father also took his life at the entrance to Ma’ale Adumim.

The son had been given a weapon just a few days ago when he started to work for a security firm. Upon returning home on Thursday, for reasons unknown, he used the gun to kill himself.

His younger brother was in the apartment at the time and called his father, Haim Ben-Hur, who rushed to the scene and was informed of what had happened. A police officer, concerned at his agitated state, requested that Ben-Hur hand over his gun.

Ben-Hur, who was the head of security in Ma’ale Adumim, drove to that city. At the entrance to the city he asked the security guard, who had not heard of the suicide, to hand over his weapon for inspection. Ben-Hur then shot himself on the spot.

Police were investigating the circumstances of the suicides.