The murder of Reuven Shmerling, 70, may have been driven by nationalistic motives, Channel 2 reported Saturday evening.
On Wednesday, Shmerling traveled from his Elkana home to a storehouse he owned near Kafr Qasim. When his wife did not succeed in contacting him, their son Shai traveled to the storehouse and found his father lifeless and with injuries to his entire body.
Shabak (Israel Security Agency) currently believes the murder was planned, and not the result of a work dispute.
Reuven Shmerling employed Arabs living under the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction, and investigators initially believed the murder was the result of a work dispute.
Shmerling was to have celebrated his 70th birthday Wednesday evening. Locals say the family had gotten together at the victim’s home for the Sukkot holiday and to celebrate his birthday. The family even printed out special novelty shirts to mark Shmerling’s birthday.
He was laid to rest in his hometown of Elkana Friday.