83-Year-Old Among Suspects in Blaze That Burned IDF Reservist’s Vehicle

Two men, ages 60 and 83, were arrested in Jerusalem on suspicion of setting fire to trash cans and tires in the Rehavia neighborhood, an act that led to a nearby car being completely destroyed. The vehicle belonged to Yoav Bar-Shei, a reservist who has served nearly 300 days in the current war and was scheduled for another tour of duty next week. This morning's incident is not the first time one of the suspects has been involved in such an act; he was previously indicted for a similar crime in September 2023, during protests against the government's judicial plan.

The fires, which were allegedly started near a memorial for the October 7 victims, caused significant damage to property and forced some residents of nearby buildings to evacuate. No one was injured in the incident. In a statement, the police said that the suspects, both Jerusalem residents, were transferred to the Moriah police station for further investigation. The police condemned the acts, calling them "criminal and dangerous actions that can endanger human lives, cause property damage, and disrupt the lives of residents." The police emphasized their commitment to upholding the right to protest while drawing a firm line against criminal activity.

Yoav Bar-Shei and his wife, Tamar, parents of three young daughters, expressed a mix of forgiveness and frustration. Yoav, who is a combat officer, said he was not angry at the arsonists, believing they did not intend to burn his family's car. "I don't think someone came wanting to burn a reservist's car with three children," he said. He added that the family's 2007 Toyota, which was burned, was worth about 35,000 shekels and that the loss of the vehicle would disrupt their lives, as his wife would have to walk to drop off their children at their various daycare centers.

Tamar Bar-Shei expressed frustration with the ongoing protests that have plagued their neighborhood for five years. She said residents "live in a kind of prison" due to constant road closures and security checkpoints. Both parents stressed that the incident was not about politics, as they, like everyone, just want the hostages to come home. Yoav mentioned that he was deeply moved by the apologies he received from hostage families, stating, "They should be sorry? We, if anything, are the ones who should be sorry and apologize. They are in an illogical situation." Supporters of the protests, including politician YaYa Fink, have since launched a crowdfunding campaign for the family, raising over 200,000 shekels in a few hours to help them buy a new car and replace their children's car seats and toys.