Suspect detained in Israel over theft of Tel Aviv judge’s car
In Israel, police detained 46-year-old Jenin resident Tarek Jarrar on suspicion of stealing the car of Tel Aviv District Court judge Alaa Masarwi. The vehicle was stolen on Sunday morning in northern Tel Aviv, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Car chase
Shortly after the theft, the car was spotted on the Ayalon Highway as it was heading north. Officers from the North Tel Aviv police station began following the vehicle, while officers from the Glilot station were called to prepare a roadblock on Highway No. 5.
At a police checkpoint, the driver was ordered to stop. According to police, he failed to comply, collided with another vehicle and continued driving. Officers pursued the car until they were able to stop it.
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Suspect’s explanation
Body camera footage shows officers approaching the vehicle. When the driver did not respond to their demands, they smashed the driver-side window and pulled him out of the car. Police identified the driver as Jarrar, who, according to their information, was in Israel without permission.
During questioning, Jarrar said he did not know the car had been stolen. According to him, another person sold him the vehicle, so he did not consider it suspicious. Police suspect him of car theft, intentional damage to a vehicle, driving without a driver’s license and without insurance.
At a hearing on the extension of his detention, Jarrar’s lawyer said that he had come to Israel to look for work because of his family’s financial difficulties in Jenin. The defense also requested that the suspect be sent for a psychiatric examination. The car was returned to Judge Masarwi, and Judge Ravit Peleg Bar-Dayan extended Jarrar’s detention until September 8, 2026.
