2009 Shooting at Tel Aviv LGBT Center Not a Hate Crime: Police

This week, in a surprise development, police arrested four suspects in relation to the 2009 shooting at a Tel Aviv LGBT Center that left counselor Nir Katz, 26, and Liz Trubeshi, 16, dead. The case is under a gag order but some details are emerging.

The AP reports:

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that the motive behind the killing was of a personal nature. He said the suspects intended to shoot someone else at the center. Instead, they opened fire on the two people they killed. Other details of the case are under court gag order.

Haaretz adds:

All three [suspects] are known criminals, with the killer and at least one accomplice being "soldiers" in a large, central Israeli crime organization who have been interrogated since the Bar Noar killings for arson and assault, police said.

The fourth, most recent arrest in the case is apparently of an activist in the gay community. He has been detained for allegedly knowing the motive for the murders and obstructing the investigation by not sharing that information with police. It is believed this individual is directly connected to the motive, and that he was the target of the assassination, which involved revenge.

The activist is known to support young people in the gay community and help them with decisions regarding their sexual identity. Three other suspects were arrested in connection to the murders themselves on Wednesday.

Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv today for its annual Gay Pride parade.

Police Arrest Suspects in Bloody 2009 Attack on Tel Aviv LGBT Center That Left Two Dead

In a surprise development, Police arrested three suspects yesterday in relation to the 2009 shooting at a Tel Aviv LGBT Center that left counselor Nir Katz, 26, and Liz Trubeshi, 16, dead, Ynet reports:

The suspects, all Jews, will appear in court on Thursday for a remand hearing. They are residents of Pardes Katz and the ages range from 20 to 40.
 
Police believe the motive for the murder was a personal dispute and that the shooter was seeking revenge. A comprehensive gag order was placed on the details of the investigation. 

Sources in the Tel Aviv District Police said the investigation is far from over but said their lead was solid and ruled out nationalistic motives. It was suggested that two of the suspects were arrested in a central Israel city after being taken off a truck.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

UPDATE from the Jerusalem Post:

The three main suspects in the murder of two gay patrons at the Bar Noar in Tel Aviv four years ago professed their innocence during their first appearance in Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday.

The court extended their remand by 11 days at the police’s request. The court is now discussing whether to extend the remand of a fourth suspect, a high-profile member of the gay community who is not thought to have taken part in the shooting but is alleged to have held information about the investigation.

Approximately 10 others were injured in the 2009 attack, in which a gunman fired on those gathered at the LGBT center with an automatic weapon.

Previously...
Shooting at Tel Aviv Gay Center Leaves 2 Dead, Nation in Shock

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1148

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For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Madonna Opens 'MDNA Tour' in Tel Aviv: VIDEOS

Madonna opened her 'MDNA tour' in Tel Aviv last night.

ABC News reports:

The elaborate stage production, which started over 30 minutes late, was not totally sold out — there was space at the back of Ramat Gan stadium. The festivities started with monks ringing a church bell, and an altar onstage. Madonna appeared in a confessional, and then broke out of it, kicking things off with her song “Girl Gone Wild.” The first part of the show featured Madonna and her dancers brandishing numerous guns for the songs “Revolver” and “Gang Bang.” During other parts of the show, she appeared wearing a red and white majorette outfit, and also in a Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed cage-like bustier.

The set list was a mix of old and new tracks, and included Madonna’s much-discussed mash-up of her own hit “Express Yourself” and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” with a few lines of her song “She’s Not Me,” from the 2008 album Hard Candy, sung repeatedly — and pointedly — at the end. Other songs performed included “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Like a Virgin,” “Vogue” and what proved to be the most popular number of the night, “Like a Prayer,” which featured a gospel choir.

She also made a speech about spreading peace in the region:

“We are all human beings. We all bleed the same color. We all want to love and be loved….If we can all rise above our egos and our titles and the names of our countries and the names of our religions…and treat everyone around us…with dignity and respect, then we are on the road to peace, OK? So, start today. Start now, each and every one of you. You are the future. We are the future, and if there is peace here in the Middle East, there can be peace in the whole world, OK?”

One image used in the show reportedly causing controversy is this still (below) from a montage in her "Nobody Knows Me" interlude which shows her overlayed with a Hitler mustache and a swastika.

Watch eight videos, including the opening (spoilers) and speech for peace, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Americans for Truth About Homosexuality has put together a so-called "Truth Academy" which I'm sure is anything but.

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MassEquality gives the thumbs up to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

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Katy Perry wrapped herself in both the Union Jack and Old Glory.

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Teen seeks $4 million from Tel Aviv LGBT youth center for injuries sustained during attack: "Yonatan Buks, 15, suffered internal damage when he was shot in the lower extremities of his body. He is undergoing rehabilitation and has difficulty speaking, Ynetnews reported Tuesday."

Air Force acknowledges existence of stealth spy plane.

Williams College hit by homophobic graffiti incident.

Sonia Sotomayor uses term "undocumented immigrant" rather than "illegal immigrant" for first time ever in SCOTUS opinions.

Tom Brady making a bunch.

Jersey Shore's "The Situation" defends his Guido-ness.

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Whatever happened to Ennis Del Mar? The Autry National Center of the American West takes a look at LGBT representation in the American West at a panel discussion this weekend in L.A: "Moderated by Virginia Scharff, author and professor of history/director of the Center for the Southwest at the University of New Mexico, the panel includes Los Angeles Times and NPR film critic Kenneth Turan; Peter M. Nardi, Ph.D., author and professor of sociology at Pitzer College; and William Handley, associate professor of English at the University of Southern California and editor of The Brokeback Book (forthcoming)."

Maine reporter fired for personal email against marriage equality.

Sacha Baron Cohen sued by Bethlehem grocer and peace activist over Bruno film: "Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's attempt to pretend that he interviewed a notorious terrorist leader in the film Bruno may cost him $110 million in damages - 80 percent of the movie's gross box office earnings. That's the sum demanded by Ayman Abu Aita, a Palestinian grocer and peace activist from Bethlehem who says his life has been ruined byBaron Cohen's movie."

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Kabul contractors' $189 million contract dumped by State Department following exposé of hazing practices.

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