Mourners gather for the funeral of Mohammed Alasibi, 26, who was killed by Israeli police in Jerusalem's Old City. AP
Mourners gather for the funeral of Mohammed Alasibi, 26, who was killed by Israeli police in Jerusalem's Old City. AP
Mourners gather for the funeral of Mohammed Alasibi, 26, who was killed by Israeli police in Jerusalem's Old City. AP
Mourners gather for the funeral of Mohammed Alasibi, 26, who was killed by Israeli police in Jerusalem's Old City. AP

Israel ends probe into fatal shooting of Arab man near Al Aqsa Mosque


Thomas Helm
  • English
  • Arabic

Israel's State Prosecutors Office said it has closed an investigation into the police shooting of an Arab man near Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque two weeks ago.

The investigation by the Police Internal Investigations Department was closed because of “the lack of an offence”, the state attorney's office said on Thursday.

It said there was “clear, direct and concrete evidence that no crime was committed” by the officers.

Police said they acted in self-defence after Mohammed Elasibi, 26, grabbed an officer's gun and fired at personnel.

The family dispute this version of events, however, accusing the police of carrying out a “cold-blooded killing”.

The case has caused a great deal of contention, with witnesses largely disputing accounts from the police and questioning why they have not released CCTV footage of the incident.

Politician Aida Touma-Sliman, of the Hadash-Ta'al party, accused authorities of ignoring “cameras which surprisingly disappeared”.

Police maintained that no cameras captured the killing. They later released a report that said Elasibi’s DNA was found on a police firearm.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the decision to close the investigation.

Mr Ben-Gvir said it was “good that the prosecution accepted the testimony of the brave police officers who neutralised a terrorist attempting an attack” at the site.

Elasibi’s family say he was an innocent medical student with no history of radical views.

After the killing, Israel's Arab community launched a one-day general strike in protest.

Israeli police attack worshippers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque — in pictures

BMW%20M4%20Competition
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20Dh617%2C600%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.

4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FA CUP FINAL

Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)

Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

Updated: April 14, 2023, 11:35 AM