Report: AG likely to indict 4 friends of settler teen killed in West Bank car chase
According to TV network, officials believe there is enough evidence to charge youths for attacking Palestinian cars with rocks prior to crash that claimed life of Ahuvia Sandak
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Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is likely to decide to file charges against four settler youths who were involved in a car chase more than a year ago that led to the death of a fifth teen, according to a Saturday report.
Channel 12 news did not provide a source for that assessment, but said officials in the police and state prosecution believe enough evidence has been amassed to justify indictments against the four.
Ahuvia Sandak, 16, was killed in a crash while fleeing from police in December 2020, allegedly after throwing rocks at Palestinians.
Sandak’s death has become a cause célèbre for right-wing activists, who have accused police of responsibility for his death, claiming they caused the car crash during the chase. Repeated recent protests over Sandak’s death have escalated into violence and arrests.
On Thursday, Mandelblit announced he was closing a probe of police officers involved in the car chase.
A statement from Mandelblit’s office said the evidence in the case showed police were justified in chasing after the car carrying Sandak, a resident of the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin, and the four other young settlers, and that there were no grounds for claiming officers intentionally rammed the vehicle.
A video published this week showed the teens’ reckless driving as police gave chase.
מנדלבליט על פרשת סנדק: אין ביסוס לטענה כי השוטרים ביקשו לפגוע במכוון ("לנגח") את הרכב הנמלט ולא ניתן לקבוע איזה מהרכבים סטה וגרם להתנגשות במהלך העקיפה
— שחר גליק Shahar Glick (@glick_sh) January 27, 2022
On Saturday, Channel 12 said authorities believe they have strong evidence that the settler teens, Sandak among them, donned masks and hurled rocks at Palestinian vehicles prior to the chase.
The report further said police expect a decision to indict the four will lead to an escalation in right-wing protests and clashes with police over the affair.
Thursday saw dozens of activists attempt to block the main entrance to Jerusalem, protesting the closure of the investigation of the police officers. Amid the demonstration, a police vehicle was damaged by a rock hurled by a demonstrator, a law enforcement spokesperson said. Police said two demonstrators were arrested by officers for “disorderly conduct.”
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.