Israeli police arrested a 54-year-old Kiryat Motzkin resident on suspicion of damaging a building on Goshen Street that serves as both a synagogue and an emergency shelter, police announced Monday.
The arrest followed a report filed at the Zevulun station, which led to a rapid investigation and police operations that identified and located the suspect for questioning.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was brought before a court, where police requested a five-day extension of her detention to complete proceedings. She was ultimately released under restrictive conditions including a restraining order barring her from the location.
Israeli police emphasized that they view any attack on holy places and freedom of worship with utmost severity, and will continue to act with full determination to prosecute anyone involved in such incidents to the fullest extent of the law.
Earlier this week, Kikar HaShabbat published surveillance footage showing an unidentified woman entering the Kiryat Motzkin synagogue and wreaking havoc inside. The footage shows the woman pouring coffee on the shul benches. The incident occurred at the public shelter on Goshen Boulevard 1, which also serves as a synagogue during normal times and is therefore well-maintained and preserved.
As part of the mayor's directive to implement a "quiet opening" of the city's shelters so that the city would be immediately prepared for any scenario of rapid deterioration in the security situation, the shelter remains open for residents' use beyond prayer times.
The mayor described the incident: "Unfortunately, there is a minority of individuals who choose to abuse our security preparedness. The vandal documented in the video entered last night (Friday, around 8:10 PM) into the shelter, and instead of respecting its purpose as a life-saving space and its sanctity as a synagogue, she wreaked havoc and deliberately poured coffee on the worshippers' benches and the furniture inside.
"In Kiryat Motzkin we do not let damage to public property slide, certainly not when it involves an emergency shelter and a holy place. We will locate her and prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law. Anyone who recognizes the woman in the video or has information that could help locate her is asked to contact the municipal hotline immediately at *5470."
