TPS: Female Bedouin Driver Gets 7 Years for Killing Couple
Suria Abu Arar, 44, was sentenced to seven years for causing the deaths of Eliav Abuksis and Shachaf Danino in a 2025 crash.
Jerusalem, 15 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Beersheba District Court on Tuesday sentenced Suria Abu Arar, 44, to seven years in prison and a 20-year driving ban for causing the deaths of an engaged couple in a February 2025 crash.
Abu Arar was convicted of two counts of causing death by criminal negligence after driving at 124 km/h (77 mph) in a 90 km/h (56 mph) zone, illegally passing two vehicles and crossing into the oncoming lane, where she collided head-on with Eliav Abuksis, 23, and Shachaf Danino, 28.
Judge Noa Haklai cited Abu Arar’s guilty plea and her status as a mother of eight in imposing a sentence below the prosecution’s request of up to 16 years.
Abu Arar must also pay each family 180,000 shekels ($60,000). The ruling sparked angry protests from the victims’ families, who plan to appeal.