Palestinian indicted for Herzliya armed robbery

A Palestinian, 22, is indicted for breaking into a house in Herzliya two weeks ago, and demanding money from an Israeli woman while threatening her with a wire cutter.

The West Bank resident is indicted for aggravated robbery, extortion, threats, and residing in Israel illegally.

The suspect is accused of knocking on the door of the woman’s home two weeks ago, asking to see her husband.

“Is your husband home? He owes me money,” he said, according to Channel 2. The woman attempted to block the doorway, but he pushed the door open, entering her home. The suspect then grabbed her, placed his hand over her mouth to silence her, and put the wire cutter to her neck. When the woman’s children, who were home, came downstairs, he threatened to kill their mother if they didn’t keep quiet.

The Palestinian then demanded that she give him all the money and jewelry she possesses. The woman handed over a Rolex watch and NIS 300 ($75) from her wallet. Before exiting, the suspect demanded that the woman and her husband give him NIS 2 million ($500,000) by the following week.

He later called the woman’s husband to demand the money, while threatening the lives of his wife and children. The Israeli man said he didn’t have this sum of money, and the suspect lowered the demand to NIS 800,000 ($200,000). The two arranged to meet in the West Bank, where the Israeli man showed up accompanied by police, and the Palestinian was arrested.