The alleged murderer of Rabbi Elazar Abuhatzeira is a 60-year-old man from the community of Elad whose name has not been disclosed, according to a Friday-morning report by Channel 10 television. The motive for the stabbing is not clear, although preliminary reports attributed it to criminal activity.

The rabbi's funeral procession was scheduled to leave Be'er Sheva at 9:00 a.m. Further observances are scheduled in Jerusalem's Porat Yoseph yeshiva at 11:00 a.m., before burial on the Mount of Olives.