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Miami Beach Shooting: Jewish Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Mistaking Israelis for Palestinians
Edited by: TJVNews.com
A shocking case of mistaken identity led to a violent incident in Miami Beach, where a Jewish man opened fire on two Israeli tourists, believing them to be Palestinian. According to a report on Monday is The Times of Israel ), 27-year-old Mordechai Brafman was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder after firing 17 rounds at a vehicle carrying Ari Rabey and his father, both Jewish Israelis visiting the United States.
The shooting, which took place on Saturday, has left the Jewish community reeling, as initial reports suggested that the victims themselves feared they were being targeted in an anti-Semitic attack. However, as the report in The Times of Israel explained, police quickly determined that the attacker was also Jewish and had acted under the false assumption that his victims were Palestinians.
According to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, the incident unfolded when Brafman, driving his truck through Miami Beach, spotted the Rabeys in their car and, without provocation, opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun. Surveillance footage captured the aftermath, showing the Rabeys driving to a nearby building to seek help, one of them visibly bleeding from his shoulder.
The Times of Israel also reported that the police arrest sheet includes a disturbing admission from Brafman. He allegedly told officers that he believed the individuals in the car were Palestinian and that he had “shot and killed both.” Fortunately, neither victim was fatally wounded. One was struck in the left shoulder, while the other sustained a grazing wound from a bullet.
Authorities quickly apprehended Brafman, and he now faces two counts of attempted murder. The Times of Israel also noted that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for Brafman to be charged with a hate crime, which would significantly increase the severity of his potential punishment.
The aftermath of the shooting left the Rabey family deeply shaken. The Times of Israel report detailed that Ari Rabey, who was shot in the shoulder, took to Facebook to share his traumatic experience. In his post, he directly addressed Jewish readers, stating: “They tried to kill us for nationalistic reasons.”
Rabey explained that he and his father had been driving through Miami Beach when they came under attack. Notably, The Times of Israel reported that his father was wearing a yarmulke at the time, making them visibly Jewish.
Speaking to ABC 10 News, Rabey described how Brafman pulled up alongside their vehicle, rolled down his window, and began shooting. Even as they tried to escape, Brafman continued firing, striking the back of their car. One bullet grazed Rabey’s father’s ear, leading Ari to momentarily fear that his father had been shot in the head.
Reflecting on his survival, Rabey expressed gratitude, telling reporters: “God gave me my life as a gift.”
After receiving treatment at a local hospital, he was later discharged.
As The Times of Israel report highlighted, the case is particularly striking because Brafman himself has previously spoken publicly about unity and reducing conflict. Just a year before the shooting, Brafman was interviewed by local media after a Miami Beach bagel store displaying an Israeli flag was vandalized. At the time, he called for greater unity and denounced acts of violence against Jewish-owned businesses.
Despite this, The Times of Israel reported that police found no evidence of a prior dispute between Brafman and the victims. Authorities have described the attack as completely unprovoked.
Brafman, who is married and listed his occupation as a plumber, now faces a lengthy legal battle. If hate crime charges are added, his potential sentence could be significantly harsher.
This disturbing attack occurs against the backdrop of a surge in tensions between Jewish and Arab communities worldwide, fueled by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The report in the Times of Israel noted that October 7, 2023, marked a turning point, as Hamas launched a brutal invasion of southern Israel, ruthlessly slaughtering 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapping 251 hostages.
There has been a sharp rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel attacks in the United States and Europe since the war began. Jewish communities have reported increased harassment, vandalism, and physical assaults, while Palestinian and Muslim groups have also expressed fears over racial profiling and acts of retaliation.
This volatile environment may have contributed to Brafman’s dangerous and tragically misguided actions. His mistaken belief that his victims were Palestinian calls attention to how heightened tensions can lead to violent outcomes, even within communities that typically stand together against external threats.
As The Times of Israel reported, Miami Beach officials and Jewish organizations have strongly condemned the shooting. Law enforcement continues to investigate Brafman’s motives, background, and any possible radical influences.
The case also raises complex legal questions. If prosecutors pursue hate crime enhancements, they must determine whether Brafman acted with a bias-fueled intent—despite the fact that his victims were Jewish.
Some Jewish leaders, as noted by The Times of Israel, fear that this case could be misused to downplay actual anti-Semitic threats faced by Jewish communities in the U.S. However, others believe it highlights the dangerous consequences of escalating paranoia and unchecked aggression.
