Netanyahu Condemns ‘Heinous’ Killing of Petah Tikva Pizzeria Worker and Warns Against Escalating Public Incitement

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemns the "heinous" killing of Yemanu Binyamin Zelka in Petah Tikva and warns against the "wild incitement" following the attack.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 8:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A National Response to a Local Tragedy

During a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on April 26, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation regarding the death of Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, a 21-year-old Pizza Hut employee. The Prime Minister described the stabbing as a "heinous murder" and announced that he would convene with Education Minister Yoav Kisch and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to formulate a response. Netanyahu emphasized that the solution must be two-fold: ensuring the full application of the law against the perpetrators and launching an educational initiative to instill anti-violence values in classrooms and homes across the country.

The Independence Day Ambush

The killing occurred under particularly distressing circumstances on the eve of Israel’s 78th Independence Day. Yemanu Binyamin Zelka was working a shift at a Pizza Hut in Petah Tikva's Kfar Ganim neighborhood when he reportedly asked a group of approximately ten teenagers to stop spraying party foam inside the establishment. According to investigative reports, the group ambushed Zelka at approximately 1:00 a.m. after he finished his work shift. He was transported to Beilinson Hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries on April 24. Police have since arrested eight suspects, including a 15-year-old believed to be the primary assailant.

Condemning ‘Wild Incitement’ and Public Backlash

In addition to addressing the crime itself, Netanyahu used the cabinet meeting to warn against the "wild incitement" that has surged in the wake of the killing. This remark appears to target the wave of public anger that saw hundreds of protesters gather outside the Petah Tikva restaurant. Demonstrators expressed frustration over what they perceived as a lack of public safety, with many directed specifically at National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Netanyahu insisted that such rhetoric "cannot be accepted" and must be "uprooted while it is still small," signaling a concern that the tragedy could be leveraged for broader political unrest.