The Israeli military’s principal Arabic-language spokesman, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, was purportedly the intended target of a lethal car-ramming assault on January 15 in Ra’anana. This attack, executed by Palestinian militants, not only aimed at Adraee—a figure renowned for his extensive outreach in Arab media—but also resulted in the tragic death of one individual and left 17 others injured.
Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, a name well-recognized across the Middle East and North Africa, has been at the forefront of representing the Israeli narrative on various fronts, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His appearances on Arab media, aimed at articulating the Israeli standpoint, have made him a notable but controversial figure in the region.
Israeli media: Avichay Adraee was subjected to an assassination attemptوسائل إعلام إسرائيلية: أفيخاي أدرعي تعرض لمحاولة اغتيال https://t.co/GUlkZAB06j
— Youssef Elhanafi (@YoussefElhanaf5) February 22, 2024
The Israeli police investigation into the January attack brought to light a chilling prelude: Ahmed Zidat, a 25-year-old from the occupied West Bank town of Bani Na’im, had previously identified Adraee at a local restaurant months before the assault. Despite contemplating an attack at that moment, Zidat, lacking arms, postponed his plans. Persistently, he revisited the neighborhood armed with a knife in hopes of finding Adraee, to no avail.
The persistence of Zidat, along with another accomplice from Bani Na’im, culminated in a calculated “ramming spree” using stolen vehicles, marking a stark manifestation of violence that not only targeted a high-profile military spokesperson but also indiscriminately harmed civilians.
The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, disclosed that the attackers were motivated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with Adraee’s high profile and active engagement in Arab media making him a prime target. Adraee's approach, notably his frequent references to Islamic texts and his direct criticisms of key figures such as Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas' Yahya Sinwar, has been a double-edged sword. While aiming to foster dialogue with the Arabic-speaking world, his method has drawn accusations of baiting from critics and has been seen as a means to justify Israeli actions in Gaza, actions that are often viewed critically in the region.
Israeli media: Avichay Adraee survived an assassination attempt https://t.co/esJ0Yh2FoF
— marypg keating aka Mary-the-Cat🔻 (@marypgkeating) February 21, 2024
Controversially, Adraee's tactics have included employing anti-Shia rhetoric and aligning with narratives that resonate with extremist ideologies, particularly in a 2018 communication where he echoed sentiments associated with the Islamic State group against Iran. This has sparked debates about the effectiveness and ethical implications of such communication strategies in the fraught landscape of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The attack in Ra’anana and the story of Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee highlight the volatile nexus of military representation, media influence, and regional conflict, underscoring the urgent need for dialogue, understanding, and peace in a region all too familiar with the costs of violence.
