Israeli settler arrested for murder and bombings

JERUSALEM - Yaakov "Jack" Teitel, a Jewish American who immigrated to Israel a decade ago, has been arrested. Teitel is a suspect in a series of high-profile terror attacks that include the murdering of Palestinians, pipe-bombs that seriously injured an Israeli professor and a string of other attacks. Originally from Florida and the son of a dentist serving in the Marines, Teitel visited Israel many times as a tourist but took citizenship in 2000, making his home in Shvut Rachel, a right-wing Jewish settlement on the West Bank, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. In 2005, a settler from the same area was arrested in 2005 for the murder of five Palestinians. According to Sky News, Alex Fishman in Yediot Ahronoth said, "It is inconceivable that he did not arouse anyone's suspicion over such a very long period of time. But the fact is, no-one told on him." Questioned by Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, he first came under suspicion while handing leaflets against homosexuality. Once detained, Teitel allegedly admitted to a series of attacks, some taking place while visiting Israel as a tourist. According to Press TV, Teitel allegedly confessed to the following: • Killing a two Palestinians, a shepherd and a taxi driver while visiting as a tourist over a decade ago. • Planting a pipe bomb at the Jerusalem home of Professor Zeev Sternhell • Placing posters in his neighborhood offering rewards for the murder of Peace Now activists • Sending a gift basket, booby-trapped with a bomb, to a family of American messianic Jews injury their 15-year-old son Police say Teitel, a father of four, was a hard-line right winger and his ideology produced a hatred of Palestinians, homosexuals, left wingers and even the police. A search of his home allegedly produced an arsenal of weapons, but a spokesman for the police said that they believed the Teitel had been acting alone. His arrest in October was kept secret by gag rule, which was lifted this past weekend.