Israeli press review: Teens murder of pizzeria worker sparks lawlessness fears

Israeli press review: Teens murder of pizzeria worker sparks lawlessness fears Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 04/27/2026 - 15:10 Meanwhile, a sharp rise in suicide among soldiers and police officers is recorded and Israel found to have been buying stolen Ukrainian wheat from Russia A member of the Israeli police speaks to a man during a protest against pressure to conscript the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community into Israel's military, in Bnei Brak, Israel, 15 February 2026 (Reuters/Nir Elias) Off Crime wave on Israel's streets Since last week, Israel has been shocked by the murder of a 21-year-old man in Petah Tikva by a group of teenagers, with many Israelis fearing the spread of violence on their streets. The incident, which took place in central Israel on Tuesday night during Independence Day celebrations, saw pizzeria worker Yemanu Binyamin Zelka murdered by several teenagers, who stabbed him to death after he asked them to stop using party foam spray inside the premises. Days later, the police opened an investigation, and eight minors were arrested and taken into questioning.