Jerusalem man suspected of intentionally running over Arab

A Jerusalem resident in his 20s was arrested Thursday on suspicion of intentionally running over an Arab gas station worker, moderately injuring him.

The incident occurred at a gas station along the city’s so-called “tunnel road,” which runs from southern Jerusalem into the West Bank.

Police investigators who examined security camera footage from the station said an argument appeared to have developed between Nachman Gabai and the worker after Gabai stopped there to fill his tank.

Gabai then got back into his car and drove into the worker, wounding him. The victim was rushed to the hospital, with his condition described as light-to-moderate.

Police said Gabai initially claimed he became suspicious of the worker’s behavior in light of ongoing Jewish-Arab tensions and hit him because he felt his safety was threatened. However, when confronted with the footage, he admitted that he had not been acting in self-defense.

A judge extended Gabai’s remand by five days as police continue to investigate.