Israeli security forces early Saturday arrested a Palestinian man suspected in the brutal murder of 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher, who was found dead on Thursday in a forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem, police said.
The Shin Bet security agency and police said in a statement that 29-year-old Palestinian suspect, identified as Arafat Irfaiya, was arrested during a raid in the city of Ramallah in Judea and Samaria and confessed to the crime.
The Shin Bet said Irfaiya left his home in Hebron carrying a knife with the intention of crossing the Green Line into Israel illegally, saw the victim in the forest and stabbed her to death. Authorities are still investigating the motive and a court-ordered gag order on certain details of the investigation was issued.
DNA samples taken at the scene were cross-referenced with a criminal database. Due to Irfaiya's criminal history, investigators were able to identify him quickly.
Palestinian authorities did not immediately comment.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said he viewed it as a terrorist attack. "We're talking about a widespread phenomenon of terrorism we're dealing with here," he told Reshet TV.
Ansbacher was buried Friday in the community of Tekoa amid calls by hard-line Jews for revenge.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the security forces for "apprehending – within a few hours – the abhorrent murderer." He expressed condolences to Ansbacher's family.
Ansbacher's younger brother, David, eulogized his big sister. "I remember the Shabbat you invited me to go hiking. We walked until we reached two small columns. 'Here it is,' you said. 'This place is the Garden of Eden and the columns are the gate to heaven.' Now you are at the gates of heaven. Ori, my amazing sister, you turned sadness into joy. Continue being with me when I help others, and when I too am buried in the ground. You spread a lot of light in this world," he said.
Her father, Gadi Ansbacher, said: "I have so many things to say about Ori, but I don't believe this has happened and don't know what to tell you [my daughter]. You saw things sharply, clearly, you saw everything. You turned everything into the greatest of love. Over the past year we studied together, we spoke a lot about divine spirit and how it resides in all of us. … You accomplished that. You won, Ori. You lived a full life, you are whole."
Tair, a friend of Ansbacher who also took part in the search for her, delivered also delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy.
"Ori, my love, my dear soul. When I was looking for you I saw many beautiful things. We found a really perfect fossil that I wanted to save for you; we saw a family of deer and lots of smiling flowers encouraging me that we would soon see you. When we found you a dark cloud fell over Jerusalem, the jackals cried along with me and reminded me of how many people you touched. I'm trying to be worthy of you, of our friendship, of all the things you taught me. You are a wonder and your soul is a giant miracle. Be strong, Ori."
