Parents of those murdered in the attack on bus line 37 in Haifa: Police close case against terrorist who received retribution for the murder

(live here) – Twenty-two years after the deadly attack on bus line 37 in Haifa, in which 17 people were murdered, most of them children and teenagers, the sense of injustice is once again becoming acute among the bereaved families.

Munir Rajabi was convicted of aiding and abetting murder, served his sentence and was released in 2023. The parents of the murdered people now claim that while serving his sentence, Rajabi received money from the Palestinian Authority for his participation in the murder and that receiving the money constitutes grounds for his prosecution.

A complaint filed by the parents against Munir Rajabi was recently closed by the police, and the families are not ready to accept the closure of the complaint. The families continue to struggle with the procedure carried out by the police.

The bloody attack on bus 37 – a painful memory in the heart of Haifa

On March 5, 2003, at around 14:15 p.m., a suicide bomber blew himself up on Egged bus line 37, which was traveling from Hadar to the city center via the Moriah route. The explosion occurred on Moriah Boulevard, in the central Carmel neighborhood. The bus was carrying students returning from school, passersby, and people on their way home. As a result of the explosion, 17 people were killed, including young students, and dozens of passengers were injured. The scene of the attack was etched in the collective memory of Haifa residents, and has since become a symbol of pain and anger. For the parents who lost their children, time does not heal the wound, and it is even worse in the face of what they see as the authorities’ continued indifference.

Suspicion: The terrorist received money from the Palestinian Authority for his participation in the attack

According to a complaint filed with the Haifa Police on December 11, 2022, Munir Rajabi, who was previously convicted of participating in the attack, received NIS 405,187 from the Palestinian Authority as compensation for his actions. This, the families claim, is a violation of sections 31 and 32 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which prohibit receiving compensation for committing an act of terrorism. These sections state that the penalty for such an act – whether it is direct pay or indirect compensation – is up to ten years in prison.

The evidence presented to the police: a seizure warrant signed by the Minister of Defense

As part of the complaint, an official document was attached: a seizure order issued by the Minister of Defense on February 10, 2023, ordering the seizure of funds transferred to terrorist Munir Rajabi by the Palestinian Authority. This is an official government document that constitutes conclusive proof of receipt of the funds. Despite this, the police announced the closure of the case on March 16, 2025. According to the families, it is unclear on what basis the case was closed, and what actions were taken as part of the investigation – if any.

Police response: Case closed – no explanations to complainants

The head of the investigations bureau in the Hof District, Chief of Staff Nimrod Ben Dor, announced in an official letter that the case against Rajabi had been closed. However, according to the parents, the announcement did not include details of the steps taken or investigations conducted. They wonder whether Rajabi was summoned for questioning, whether the identity of the actual recipient of the money was checked, and whether the possibility that he used his family members – his sister Samar, his mother Saada, or his brother Ismail Rajabi – to receive the money was examined.

Power of attorney and family – possible involvement of others as well

The families are demanding an investigation that will examine not only Rajabi himself but also his family members. According to the Anti-Terrorism Law, anyone who transfers or receives money in the name of a terrorist in retaliation for an act of terrorism is also breaking the law. Suspicion is particularly high regarding his brother Ismail Rajabi, who also served eight years in prison for his involvement in the attack. According to the parents, it should be investigated whether he or other family members allegedly mediated in the receipt of the prohibited funds – and if so, they should also be prosecuted.

Continuing struggle of bereaved families: "We will not give up"

Behind the complaint are three bereaved parents – Ron Kerman, the father of the late Tal; Yossi Tzur, the father of the late Assaf; and Yossi Mendelevich, the father of the late Yuval. They are not willing to give up. From their perspective, closing the case constitutes an injury not only to the memory of the children but also to the public's trust in the enforcement authorities. "We demand to know exactly what is being done, what is not being done, and why a terrorist offender receives funds and is not prosecuted – in violation of the law," they wrote in their letter.

The families have formally requested a meeting with the law enforcement officials involved in the case to understand why it was closed. They are demanding a reopening of the investigation, a thorough investigation of all sources of money transferred to Rajabi throughout his 20 years in prison, and his prosecution under the laws of the State of Israel.

The law is clear – but not enforced

The Counter-Terrorism Law, enacted in 2016, is designed for precisely such situations – to prevent the phenomenon in which terrorists receive “pay” for murderous acts. The law is not content with preventing the transfer of funds but also defines their receipt as a serious criminal offense. Sections 31 and 32 of the law emphasize: Any person who receives payment for an act considered to be terrorism is liable to up to ten years in prison. However, according to the families, the law remains a dead letter when it comes to terrorists who have murdered Israeli citizens.

“The law is in their hands, and they choose not to use it,” said a bereaved father angrily. “This is not just a disappointment – ​​it is a betrayal of our children’s memory.” “If the terrorist receives money for what he did, it is as if our country is saying – it is okay,” concludes one of the fathers. “This is not okay. This is another crime, and it must stop. And it is the duty of the country to act.”

A demand for justice – even after 20 years

For the parents, this is a struggle that has no expiration date. Twenty years have passed – but for them, time stopped on March 5, 2003. As long as there is justice that has not been done, as long as there are perpetrators who have not been punished – they will continue to act, to appeal, to fight, and not to give up. They ask for one thing – that the legal system and police of the State of Israel do what it is obligated to do: enforce the law, protect its citizens, and prevent the next time. Because as the parents learned firsthand – if there is no price tag on terrorism, it will only continue to increase.