Ben Hasin Photo Credit: Channel 2 News
It was cleared for publication today (Tuesday) that an Israeli citizen who was fighting against ISIS in an Islamic country with which Israel does not have diplomatic ties has been arrested and indicted for murder.
Ben Hasin returned to his country of birth two years ago in order to visit his grandparents who still there. During his stay, he enlisted into a local militia that is fighting ISIS. As part of his job, he received a personal firearm.
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During his last leave, Hasin entered a taxi to get to his grandparents’ home. During the ride, he spoke on his cellphone in Hebrew. The driver realized that he was Israeli and deviated from the route, saying that he intends to hand him over to ISIS terrorists. In order to prevent the driver’s plans, the Israeli took out his firearm and shot him. The driver was fatally injured and the Israeli was arrested on suspicion of murder and indicted.
Hasin’s father, who lives in Israel, contacted the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry once he heard the news. The ministry representatives told him that their abilities to help him are limited but promised to try. The father was able to delay the trial several times while negotiations were held with the driver’s family in order to reach a settlement agreement. The sides decided that the Israeli family will pay the driver’s family $120,000.
The settlement agreement is supposed to be presented in court on January 29. The father, who does not have a job, is having trouble raising the money. The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry told him that they do not have the authority or ability to help him.
The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry stated in response: “The wellbeing and safety of the Israeli citizen are our top priority. This is the reason the Foreign Affairs Ministry has been in contact with the family for a long time. We hope that the efforts of the father and the family will be successful and that the son will be released soon.”