Police Say They Have A Lead in Tel Aviv Killings

Jim Burroway

August 2nd, 2009

Ha’aretz says police believe they have a lead in the manhunt for the Tel Aviv killer, and in the process are trying to downplay the possibility of a hate crime:

This tip has to be examined very carefully. We are still at an early stage in the investigation, and it’s too soon to say if this supposition is going to materialize,” police sources said. Besides homophobia, another direction under investigation is that of a personal feud, they added.

Some of the sources criticized the reaction of the leaders of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, who police say rushed to make declarations about incitement being the cause of the murders of the two victims.

“They were too quick with the rallies and the slogans. It’s not at all clear – the motive for the attack may have been personal, rather than a general targeting of the community,” a senior Tel Aviv police source told Haaretz.

Meanwhile, friends and relatives gathered for the funeral of Nir Katz, the 26-year-old youth counselor at the LGBT center. The other victim, 16-year-old Liz Trubeshi was also laid to rest today. Liz’s friends say that she was active in the gay youth organization as a supportive ally, even though she was not a lesbian herself.

Israelis rally in Tel Aviv Sunday afternoon. (Moti Kimche/Ha'aretz)

Israelis rally in Tel Aviv on Sunday afternoon (Mot Kimche/Ha'aretz)

Meanwhile, hundreds turned out for a rally in Tel Aviv Sunday afternoon to protest the shooting. Opposition leader Tzipi Livnie told the mourners, “We need to give strength to the child who comes to his parents and says: ‘I am gay,’ or ‘I am a lesbian;’ and this day needs to give the strength to everyone in the gay community to live their lives.”

The Knesset will hold a special plenum debate on the attack Monday.

Swampfox

August 2nd, 2009

I can only pray that they find the person responsible and find out his/her motive. I still can’t believe that this individual would attack a group of gay teenagers.

Jack Kenny

August 2nd, 2009

Where is Barack Obama’s condemnation of this brutal hate crime?! Where is Barack Obama on LGBT issues? If this were the murder of innocent black youths, would he still be silent?

Swampfox

August 3rd, 2009

To Jack Kenny, this tragic event took place in Israel, not the United States.

JJQR

August 3rd, 2009

Jack : We know Obama isn’t good on gay issues, but in this case it would have been inappropriate for him to comment. Massacres happen around the world all the time, and he can’t comment on all of them. Also, one has to be careful about making statements on this case since we don’t yet even know what the motive was.

Regan DuCasse

August 3rd, 2009

I would like to say that Liz Trubeshi will stay in my mind like Viola Liuzzo. She was a girl who wasn’t gay herself, but was there in support of her friends. Perhaps she didn’t know or perhaps she did, understand the risks involved, but put herself in the circle with her friends.

Shero, idealistic youth…what matters is that she and Nir Katz did what they thought was right in a world that won’t accept their commitment to love their gay friends and give each other support.

I know how it feels, that nasty stinky hot breath of anti gay hostility for us allies.
BRING IT!!!

Nir and Liz are in God’s hands, and as I keep saying, although the violence was cowardly and specific, the assembly of hundreds of Israelis in peaceful protest is more of what I’m talking about.
Virtually no matter what outrage gay people suffer, they do not respond in kind on a regular, let alone widespread basis.
They do the Civil Rights movement and the legacies of Dr. King and Ghandi so VERY proud!

Timothy Kincaid

August 3rd, 2009

Regan,

Thank you for reminding us that allies are so very very valuable to the gay community and for pointing out that allies, friends, and supporters also take risks. The willingness of folks like Liz (and you) to take a stand for equality is something we must greatly appreciate and we must always remember that those who stand with us can pay a heavy price for their courage and conviction.

Thank you to Liz. Thank you to you, Regan. And thank you to all the others out there who risk insult, loss of friends, economic consequences, and even violence or death to support the gay community.

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