Samaria Security Coordinator Indicted for Shooting at Palestinian Vehicle
The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office indicted Samaria security coordinator Pinchas Shem-Tov Ran for aggravated sabotage and opening fire on a Palestinian vehicle.
The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment on Friday against Pinchas Shem-Tov Ran, a security coordinator in the Gidonim Ridge sector of Samaria, charging him with aggravated intentional sabotage and obstruction of justice. A gag order had previously banned the publication of details until the filing of the indictment.
Indictment Details and Incident
According to the indictment, Ran entered the Palestinian village of Aqraba outside his assigned jurisdiction, conducted unauthorized ID checks, and opened fire on a vehicle carrying a couple after the driver failed to stop. The document notes that military officials had previously held several clarification talks with the defendant following unusual incidents, warning him not to exceed his jurisdiction and to strictly adhere to open-fire regulations.
On September 18, Ran left his home in Givot Olam near Itamar in a Ranger utility vehicle, armed with an Arad assault rifle, accompanied by a career soldier. During the drive, he deviated from his route and entered Aqraba. There, he spotted a Mazda vehicle carrying a couple and ordered the driver to stop. The indictment states that the driver, fearing harm after noticing one of the vehicle's occupants was masked, continued driving. In response, Ran drew his weapon and fired at least three shots at the moving vehicle, intending to harm the occupants. Two bullets struck the woman, with one penetrating her chest and lodging in her lung near her heart. She was hospitalized, underwent surgery to remove the bullets, and required several days of medical care.
"The defendant acted outside his authority, endangering human life and disregarding direct military warnings," prosecutors stated.
Defense Claims and Background
Ran claimed that during the incident he was with an IDF officer on official duty. According to his version, a vehicle without license plates suddenly approached them near the village, appearing to attempt a run-down attack. The two claimed they felt immediate mortal danger and jumped aside. Ran maintained that after escaping the danger, he fired into the air to stop the vehicle, which fled into the village.
Ran's younger brother, Maj. Or Yosef (Urosh) Ran, was killed in action on October 7 during the battle for Kibbutz Kfar Aza, fighting terrorists and rescuing residents. Following Ran's arrest, security coordinators from the Samaria Regional Council protested outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, while his wife sent a letter to the Minister of Defense protesting his detention conditions.
