Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception.
R.E.A.L. condemns the actions of any individual who claims to be representing a religious view of any kind when they commit terrorism. R.E.A.L. is disappointed in the failure of the Jerusalem courts to swiftly and expeditiously prosecute Yaakov Teitel, and we urge the Israeli people and the Israeli government to speak out on this disgrace.
On May 4, 2010, a Jerusalem district psychiatrist submitted an evaluation to an Israeli court that accused “Jewish terrorist” Yaakov Teitel was unfit to stand trial.
In November 2009, American Jewish immigrant to Israel, Yaakov “Jack” Teitel, had been charged with murder and attempted murder, as a result of reported “hate crimes” over a 12 year period against Muslims, Arabs, homosexuals, leftists, Jews, and Messianic Jews.
Israeli Haaretz and other media have described Mr. Teitel as a “Jewish terrorist.” Haaretz previously reported that Mr. Teitel’s alleged crimes included “two murders, four attempted murders, four cases of incitement, three weapons violations, four cases of illegally manufacturing weapons, one arson and threats motivated by hate.”
In Haaretz’s report “Cool, calculated ‘Jewish terrorist’ shows no remorse in court,” it stated that the “charge sheet states everything was premeditated,” and that Mr. Teitel stated ‘It is a pleasure and an honor to serve my Lord. I do not regret it,’ he shouted during a hearing to extend his remand, adding that he had no doubt that God approved of his actions.”
Both Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth have published photographs of Yaakov Teitel smiling at previous trials.
Photograph of Smiling Yaakov (Jack) Teitel in the Jerusalem District Court, January 11, 2010. (Photo: Haaretz/Ana Kaplan)
Another Photograph of Smiling Yaakov Teitel (Photo: Yedioth Ahronoth)
Media Reports and Background:
Haaretz: “Suspected Jewish terrorist unfit to stand trial, evaluation says”
— Israel’s Haaretz news: “Yaakov (Jack) Teitel was charged last November with the murder of 2 Palestinians, 3 counts of attempted murder.”
— Haaretz: “Teitel, a resident of the settlement Shvut Rachel, was charged last November with murdering two Palestinians and attempting to murder three people, including Hebrew University Professor Zeev Sternhell and Ariel teenager Ami Ortiz. Ortiz, from a family of Messianic Jews, was gravely wounded by a bomb packaged inside a Purim gift in March 2008.”
— “In the evaluation, submitted to the court Tuesday, Jerusalem’s district psychiatrist wrote that Teital had been declared unfit as a result of flaws in the way in which he perceived his alleged actions.”
— “It should be noted, however, that the ruling does not affect Teitel’s responsibility for the crimes attributed to him, as he is charged with many separate events spread across eleven years. In order for the defense to claim his mental state affected his accountability for these crimes the defense would have to prove he was legally insane in each one of those incidents.”
— “The evaluation will, however, likely bring about a postponement of Teitel’s trial, until there is an improvement in his mental state.”
— Jerusalem Post: “Psychiatrist: Tytel unfit for trial”
February 10, 2010 – Haaretz: “Suspected Jewish terrorist admits to anti-missionary activities”
— “Anti-missionary group gained notoriety in recent years for its actions against Messianic Jews.”
— Haaretz: “Suspected Jewish terrorist Yaakov (Jack) Teitel told his interrogators he was an active member of anti-missionary group Yad L’achim for five years, Haaretz has learned.”
January 12, 2010 – Haaretz: “FBI and Shin Bet began tracking ‘Jewish terrorist’ year before arrest”
— “Teitel refuses to cooperate with his attorney, saying he does not recognize court’s authority.”
— Haaretz: “A year prior to Yakov ‘Jack’ Teitel’s arrest, the Shin Bet and the FBI were in close contact as part of an investigation into bombings targeting homosexuals, messianic Christians and left-wing figures, Haaretz has learned.”
— “The Israeli authorities considered translating the pamphlets on how to make explosive devices the bomber had made for dissemination to other intelligence services in the hope of possibly finding a link through their data bases.”
January 10, 2010 – Haaretz: “U.S. immigrant gets expulsion order for supporting ‘Jewish terrorist'”
“The 22-year-old was vocal in supporting Yaakov Teitel’s alleged murder of a Palestinian.”
— “A young American immigrant was recently expelled from the West Bank for allegedly supporting ‘Jewish terrorist’ Yaakov Teitel.”
— “Teitel was charged in November with two murders, three attempted murders and other acts of violence. The indictment also lists Teitel’s efforts for more than a decade to harm Arabs, gays and lesbians, leftists, police officers and messianic Jews.”
November 13, 2009 – Haaretz: “Cool, calculated ‘Jewish terrorist’ shows no remorse in court”
— Haaretz reports: “The indictment against Yaakov (Jack) Teitel on Thursday presented an image of a precise, trained terrorist who operated for 12 years, leaving nearly no trace. Until he was caught.”
— “‘It is a pleasure and an honor to serve my Lord. I do not regret it,’ he shouted during a hearing to extend his remand, adding that he had no doubt that God approved of his actions.”
November 6, 2009 – Yedioth Ahronoth: “Teitel operated by Shin Bet in past”
November 2, 2009 – Yedioth Ahronoth: “They’re not scared – Teitel affair attests to lack of deterrence vis-a-vis violent radicals”
— Alex Fishman: ” It’s impossible that he raised no suspicions for such a long time. But the fact is, nobody informed authorities. Even when he was held up for questioning, he was released for lack of evidence.”
— “So what does the next murderer conclude about the Shin Bet’s ability to cover and penetrate such small communities? There is nobody to fear. Law enforcement authorities don’t reach these places.”
November 2, 2009 – Sky News: “Jewish ‘Terrorist’ Held Over Hate-Crime Spree”
November 1, 2009 – Haaretz: “Who is suspected Jewish terrorist Yaakov Teitel?”
November 1, 2009 – Yedioth Ahronoth: “Settler suspected of multiple hate crimes”
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that:
“Teitel was arrested in Jerusalem in a joint police-Shin Bet operation on October 7. He is suspected of attempted murder, aggravated assault, arms offenses and racial incitement.”
Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that:
“So far, Teitel has confessed to carrying out the following:
* The 1997 murder of an east Jerusalem taxi driver
* The 1997 murder of a Palestinian shepherd south of Mount Hebron
* Placing an explosive device in the Ramallah-adjacent settlement of Eli in 2006 – the device was found and disarmed safely
* Placing an explosive device near a Beit Shemesh monetary in 2007, which resulted in one Palestinian injured
* A 2007 explosion which took place in the Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem – a police cruiser was severely damaged, but no injuries were reported
* Hurling explosives at a police car in June 2007 – no injuries or damage were reported
* Sending a parcel bomb to a messianic family residing in Ariel, which resulted in a 15-year-old boy suffering severe injuries
* Placing a pipe bomb near Prof. Zeev Sternhell’s Jerusalem home in September of 2008 – Sternhell was lightly wounded.”