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Details :
Category: Mass Murder
Location: Shfar'am Israel
Date: August 4, 2005
Crime: Natan-Zada was a 19-year old soldier in the Israeli Defense Force who went AWOL after getting involved in extreme, far-right religious activities. He opened fire on a crowded bus killing four people and wounding 22 others before being subdued and handcuffed. Then, while cuffed inside the bus, the crowd attacked him and beat him to death.
Biography: Born July 9, 1986 Natan-Zada was described as a very bright and studious young schoolboy. As a teen, he was introduced to Kahanism, an extremist religious movement, via the internet. As he was serving his mandatory military service in the Israeli Defence Forces, he became increasingly disenfranchised and his views became more extreme. He would spend his weekends in an Orthodox West bank Settlement that was known as the unofficial headquarters of the far-right wing extremists. After deserting the military, it is believed that Natan-Zada took refuge in that same settlement. On August 4, 2005, he boarded a bus, destined for Shfaram', in full military dress and carrying his M16 rifle. The bus driver, thought it was odd for a visibly observant Jewish soldier to be headed towards the Arab dominated Shfaram' area, but Natan-Zada convinced him that it was his destination. He rode silently, until the bus began pulling into Shfaram, when he rose, blocked the doorway and opened fire on the Arabs in the bus. When he paused to reload his weapon, people in the street stormed the bus and subdued him. Upon the arrival of the police, they found him tied up and still alive, however, the police were unable to contain the crowd and Natan-Zada was lynched. In some writings that he left behind, Natan-Zada claimed that his motive was to provoke widespread riots and violence which would serve to deter the planned evacuation of the Gaza strip settlers.
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