Ultra-Orthodox Activist Confessed to Ortiz Bombing

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice would like to congratulate the Israeli Police and the General Security Services for their successful apprehension of Yaacov "Jack" Teitel, the self-described "anti-missionary" activist, who confessed to the bombing of Ami Ortiz on April 20, 2008. Besides his violent activities against Messianic Jews, Teitel a 37 year old former US Marine turned ultra-orthodox, admitted to carrying out several other crimes, including the murder of at least two Palestinian Arabs and the bombing of Israel Prize Laureate Prof. Ze'ev Sternhall.

This religious hate crime is the direct result of the daily incitement which is spread without interference by ultra-orthodox extremists against minority groups in Israel, solely because of their faith and religious affiliation. These same extremists, who do not view Israel as a legitimate state because it is not a rabbinical theocracy, purposefully incite violence and persecute innocent citizens simply because these minorities do not fit into their warped definition of who is a Jew. Indeed, the prosecution of Jack Teitel is an important milestone for Israeli democracy.

The sad reality is that shortly before this religious hate crime in Ariel, posters were spread throughout the neighborhood inciting hatred against the Ortiz family, an act which was ignored by the local law enforcement authorities. It is impossible to overlook the fact that Jack Teitel probably received his evil motivation to murder the Ortiz family from those same posters.

We feel very privileged to have partners from around the world who stood with JIJ as we assisted the Ortiz family throughout this tragedy and prolonged investigation. Thank you for donating and helping them during Ami's recovery period via donations to the JIJ Hate Crime Prevention Fund.

We have handled hundreds of cases of discrimination and harassment of citizens because of their religious affiliation. We regret to report that posters of hatred and incitement continue to be disseminated in our streets by this marginal stream of ultra-religious activists, on a daily basis. Hence, we call on the Israeli Police to continue the good work which they have begun, by investigating and eradicating this criminal behavior. Literally, "the writing is on the wall" regarding the next religious hate crime.

Yaacov "Jack" Teitel, the self-described "anti-missionary" activist, who confessed to the bombing of Ami Ortiz

Teitel a 37 year old former US Marine turned ultra-orthodox, admitted to carrying out several other crimes 

Posters were spread throughout the neighborhood inciting hatred against the Ortiz family