American Jewish immigrant to Israel behind JCC bomb threats
Unclear whether motive was to stoke anti-Trump sentiment or encourage Aliyah
An Israeli citizen living in Ashkelon has been arrested for calling in dozens of bomb threats to Jewish communities around the world, according to a Jerusalem Post report.
A gag order on the case was lifted today by the Rishon LeTzion Magistrate’s Court.
Jerusalem Post reports that: “There are still few details available about the suspect’s profile, but he is not in the IDF, not ultra-Orthodox, and at some point made aliya and possibly has psychological and social problems.”
The suspect’s father was arrested as well, since the suspect was using conspicuous equipment, like a large antenna, and it would be likely that his parents knew he was up to something.
President Donald Trump had reportedly told Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro that bomb threats at Jewish Community Centers may have been from “the reverse” to try to “make others look bad,” Shapiro told the Billy Penn web site.
At the time, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told BuzzFeed News that they “are astonished by what the President reportedly said” with regard to the source of the JCC bomb threats and that “[i]t is incumbent upon the White House to immediately clarify these remarks.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also responded, telling a reporter: “That is an absurd and obscene statement.”
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