Eden Natan-Zada

Natan-Zada was born in Rishon LeZion and was 19 at the time of the attack.[9] Before the shooting, he had spent much of his time in Tapuah, where he was known as a Kach activist, and had become intensely religious.[9] He was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces and sent to basic training at the Nitzanim base.[9]

About two months before the shooting, Natan-Zada deserted during basic training; military police were searching for him.[9] Before leaving, he had refused to participate in establishing a tent city at Re’im as part of preparations for the Gaza disengagement.[9] He left the Nitzanim base with a rifle and a letter opposing participation in an organization that expelled Jews.[10] The letter stated: “Just as I couldn't carry out an order that desecrates the Sabbath, I cannot be part of an organization that expels Jews,” and included the slogan “Jews don't expel Jews.”[10]

Fellow soldier Artium Bolotin later recalled that Natan-Zada had left his post during guard duty, taking a rifle and ammunition.[11] Bolotin said Natan-Zada had spoken extensively about the planned pullout, said he could no longer serve in an army unit involved in it, and expressed no fear of imprisonment.[11] Bolotin had not thought him capable of carrying out such an extreme act.[11]

On August 4, 2005, Natan-Zada boarded Egged bus 165 traveling to Shefa-Amr, also called Shfaram.[4][9] The bus left Haifa’s Merkazit HaMifratz at 5:05 p.m.; at approximately 5:30 p.m., after reaching Shefa-Amr’s Druze neighborhood, he opened fire on passengers with an M16 rifle.[4][9] Four people were killed: the driver, Mikhail Bahous, and passengers Nader Haik and sisters Hazar and Dina Turki.[4] Other passengers were wounded, although published accounts give different totals.[2][3]

Passengers disarmed and restrained Natan-Zada, after which police entered the bus.[4] A local security officer said Natan-Zada was alive when he was handcuffed and detained with another police officer.[12] Passengers and local residents gathered around the bus, and emergency medical teams had difficulty reaching the wounded amid the crowds.[9][12] A crowd subsequently broke through police efforts to keep people out of the bus, and Natan-Zada was killed.[12] He was beaten with fists, kicks, and objects, while the crowd also attacked police officers guarding him.[4]

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz denied Natan-Zada a military burial.[4] He was buried in Rishon LeZion in a civilian ceremony.[4]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon publicly condemned the shooting as an act of terrorism.[2] The attack was one of two incidents during the disengagement period that he labeled “Jewish terrorism.”[3] In later proceedings concerning Natan-Zada’s death, judges said he had killed his victims only because they were Arabs.[8]

On August 7, 2005, police arrested three alleged associates of Natan-Zada, all identified as Kach members, over possible knowledge of or involvement in the shooting.[1] A court order prohibited publication of information relating to the case.[1]

A military inquiry concluded that the attack could not have been prevented because no relevant organization possessed enough information to thwart it.[5] Committee head Ika Abrabanel said warning signs during Natan-Zada’s service had not been passed between his units, limiting the military’s ability to assemble a full profile.[5] The committee recommended better information-sharing between the Shin Bet and the IDF and changes in the collection of relevant security information.[5] It also concluded that sharing the Shin Bet’s information would not, by itself, have led authorities to consider Natan-Zada capable of extreme violence.[5]

The government initially decided that the victims’ families were ineligible for compensation under the Terror Law because the attack had not been carried out by “enemy forces.”[1] The Defense Ministry subsequently decided that the government should compensate the victims, although the cases remained pending at the end of 2005.[1] Sharon ordered a legislative change to expand eligibility beyond victims of terrorist actions committed by regular military forces or organizations hostile to Israel or the Jewish people.[6] On July 19, 2006, the government amended the 1970 Compensation Law for Victims of Hostile Acts to cover people victimized by violence deriving from the Israeli-Arab conflict.[6] Under the amended law, Natan-Zada’s victims and their families were recognized as victims of terrorism and eligible for compensation.[6]

Criminal proceedings over Natan-Zada’s death prompted protests by residents who argued that the violence against him had occurred while protecting people on the bus.[4] Seven residents were arrested approximately ten months after the attack, and indictments were filed in 2009 on charges concerning violence against Natan-Zada and police officers.[4] In July 2013, the Haifa District Court acquitted all seven of attempted murder; four were convicted of attempted manslaughter, two of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and one was acquitted of all charges.[7] The court acknowledged the intense emotions provoked by the shooting but stated that society could not accept blood revenge or lynching.[7]

In November 2013, six defendants received prison terms: three received two years, and the others received 20, 18, and 11 months respectively; a seventh received an eight-month suspended sentence.[8] The judges considered the circumstances and the delay before charges were filed, emphasizing the families’ loss of loved ones in the killing of innocent people.[8]

Published reports give injury totals ranging from at least six to 20.[12][7] Accounts also differ on the duration of the violence preceding Natan-Zada’s death.[4][12] His opposition to disengagement was documented in his letter, but the interpretation of the shooting as a protest against the evacuation was an apparent motive rather than a definitive finding.[4][10]