Friend of Binyamin Netanyahu Rezi, injured in the incident, contradicts suspects' account: “The girls are lying”
The main suspect, 17-year-old Avivar Shashon, claimed during interrogation that he acted in self-defense. Matanya, who was also attacked that evening, tells a different story: “He wasn’t stabbed with his own knife.”
A prosecutor’s statement was filed on Tuesday against seven suspects in connection with the murder of Binyamin Netanyahu Rezi in Jerusalem. The main suspect, 17-year-old Avivar Shashon, stated during the hearing: “I acted in self-defense.” However, the testimony of Matanya, Rezi’s friend who was also attacked that evening, presents a different picture. According to him, Rezi did not hold a knife at all: “There were two knives used by the attackers. It makes no sense that he was stabbed with his own knife. They are trying to slip out of this story.” He also contradicted the girls’ claims, noting: “Whoever is afraid calls the police, they don’t invite people to an apartment.”
During interrogation, Avivar Shashon claimed he acted in self-defense: “I tried to strike him with my hand; he started acting aggressively, and that caused the injury.” Police noted that this version is taken with limited credibility as it contradicts other investigative findings. Matanya, who was stabbed three times in the hand, insisted: “I saw a folding knife on the floor, and it was closed. How is killing a person self-defense? He was stabbed directly in the heart.”
WhatsApp correspondence presented in court indicated prior intent. Agam Tzarfati sent a message to Shilit Hota stating: “He dies today,” referring to Rezi. Tzarfati also messaged Rezi: “You said Shilit and Agam are whores? Come see what whores do. I’ll show you how children like you should behave.”
Matanya also challenged the suspects' claims that their phones were taken: “The girls told us to come up to the apartment. If they were afraid, why didn’t they call the police? And if we took their phones, how did they manage to make a real-time video call?”
Rezi, a 19-year-old from Givat Ze’ev, was stabbed to death in an Airbnb apartment in Jerusalem’s Nachlaot neighborhood. The four present were Rezi, his friend, and two women—Agam Tzarfati and Shilit Hota. According to the investigation, Linor Shashon, Avivar’s mother, acted as a mediator, summoning a group of teenagers who then attacked Rezi and his friend. It is also alleged that Tzarfati and Hota tried to persuade Shashon’s minor sister to take the blame, promising a lighter sentence, but she refused to cooperate.
Additionally, a Shin Bet officer was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the investigation and breach of trust, allegedly maintaining contact with Shashon’s brother and helping the suspect hide by allowing the brother to use her phone.
