“He Didn’t Do It!": Eilat Man’s Murder Confession Splits Neighbours
Asher Goldstein’s confession to drowning his son 50 years ago has reopened old wounds in Eilat, with neighbours recalling a tumultuous household while others defend him, citing his terminal illness and loneliness. The case, unlikely to lead to prosecution due to expired legal deadlines, highlights lingering community divisions and past suspicions.
On August 23, 2025, Asher Goldstein, an 88-year-old terminally ill Eilat resident, confessed to drowning his five-year-old son, Saar, in 1974, reigniting decades-old suspicions among former neighbours. Goldstein, who served 11 years of a 16-year sentence for murdering his wife, Levana, in 1976, admitted to the earlier killing, citing “mercy” due to Saar’s severe cerebral palsy. The confession, reported by Ynet, has divided those who knew the family, with some neighbors recalling a volatile household marked by constant arguments, while others defend Goldstein’s character.
Sh., a former neighbour, expressed little surprise, stating, “All day there were screams from their house. I remember the incident with the boy. He was severely disabled. I don’t believe a parent could leave such a child unsupervised, and I don’t think he could have reached the water alone. It’s just my opinion, but I’m convinced he had a hand in his son’s death.” She added, “We heard screams with his wife too; all the neighbours knew and complained. He was convicted of her murder after two years and served only 11 years. I believe they’ll release him soon; there’s no evidence for a case from over 50 years ago.”
Batya, 86, who lived opposite Goldstein, recalled, “They were fighting all the time, both of them. She, his wife, would yell at him, at us, at strangers. I was shocked to read about it in Yediot Ahronot today. I knew him; he had a tractor business, I think. It’s been so long, it’s hard to remember.”
Conversely, G. staunchly defended Goldstein, saying, “It’s a sad story; I haven’t stopped crying since yesterday. He’s a lonely man. He didn’t do it. He’s tired of life, it’s hard for him. I think he confessed to get arrested, to have a place to live, food, and care. He’s very smart and wise. He’s very sick and didn’t want to die alone.” The statute of limitations, expired in 1995, complicates prosecution, but Goldstein’s detention was extended to August 27, 2025, as police investigate.