Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., May 06, 2008 Iyyar 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Suspects during their remand in Ramle last year. (Motti Kimche / Archives) Last update - 17:55 05/05/2008 Court convicts two members of Petah Tikvah neo-Nazi cell By Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Petah Tikvah  Two members of a youth-led neo-Nazi cell that had been operating in Petah Tikvah were convicted on Monday at the Tel Aviv District Court. The group's leader, Arik Bunyatov, 20, and a minor from Holon were convicted of a string of racially-motivated violent crimes. The two signed a plea bargain deal with the prosecution. Buniatov will likely serve between four to seven and a half years in jail and the minor may be imprisoned for up to two and a half years. Advertisement Both suspects were convicted of possessing and publishing racist materials, incitement and contacts geared toward criminal activity. Bunyatov was convicted of assault and threats, while the minor was convicted of illegally possession a weapon. The police investigation into the alleged neo-Nazi cell began a year ago, following two incidents of vandalism against Petah Tikva synagogues. Eight young men suspected of neo-Nazi activities were remanded to custody. Bunyatov initially denied the charges, but the other suspects admitted to being involved in neo-Nazi activities, police investigators said. They were Iliya Bondenko, 21, from Petah Tikva; Alex Flich, 19, from Karnei Shomron; Kyril Bolenko, 18, from Holon; Vladimir Nizovadze, 18, from Bat Yam; and three minors aged 16 and 17 from Petah Tikva, whose identities are protected by law. The police investigation had focused on two main suspects: Bunyatov and Bondenko. Police detectives found neo-Nazi materials on both their computers, and this expanded the probe into new directions. "The materials we found were difficult to watch," the head of the investigation, Superintendent Yigal Ben Shalom, said Sunday. The video clips found on the computers showed the suspects, along with other people dressed in typical skinhead, neo-Nazi clothes, in the process of assaulting their victims. These videos led detectives working on the case to suspect that the gang had attacked dozens of people in the Tel Aviv area, mostly foreign workers and drug addicts. In one video, they are seen approaching a foreign worker as he is talking on a public telephone, punching him in the face and breaking a bottle over his head. Violently loud music accompanies each clip, and between segments, the suspects spliced swastikas and other Nazi symbols. According to the material on their computers, the suspects also planned to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Shimon goes green Peres says to fight terror Israel should reduce its dependence on oil. Voices of heroism IDF releases audio recordings from famed 1976 Entebbe raid.   1.   I have worked with Bnai Brith Anti Defamation. 20:05  |  Robert/Montreal 05/05/08   2.   Durson`s friends 23:00  |  Ben Katz 05/05/08   3.   Send these non-Jewish ex-Soviet Olim to learn Judaism. 23:39  |  Nissim Wiener 05/05/08   4.   Nissim, you are mistaken 00:02  |  judith 06/05/08   5.   What about Ministry of Interior, courts, etc.? 00:08  |  Ulf 06/05/08   6.   They should convict the Jewish agency emissary that let them in 01:43  |  Ben Menachem 06/05/08   7.   Who is more racist? 10:51  |  Ulf 06/05/08   8.   Court convicts two members of Petah Tikvah neo-Nazi cell 14:43  |  Ian 06/05/08   9.   Petah Tikvah neo-Nazi cell 17:43  |  Ora 06/05/08   10.   neo nazi israelis??? 21:21  |  jo 06/05/08

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