Israeli envoy murdered in Ecuador
Israel Air Force Industries envoy to Ecuador, Mordechai Pravda, killed during armed robbery
His family in Israel and the Foreign Ministry have been notified.
Eyewitnesses claimed 58-year-old Mordechai Pravda entered his rental car at 8 p.m. local time. A black vehicle suddenly pulled up and two men stepped out and smashed the windows of Pravda’s car.
They threatened him and ordered he drive towards downtown Guayaquil, where they forced Pravda to hand over all his money and possessions.
Pravda cooperated and gave them everything he had, except for one of the two necklaces he had around his neck. He told the robbers it was a gift from his father.
However, without responding, one of the men pointed his gun and shot Pravda in the head. Both men fled the scene.
Local residents found Pravda and rushed him over to a local clinic where he was pronounced dead.
Not a rare incident
Israel’s consul to Guayaquil Galit Efraim told Ynet that South American residents are used to violence on the streets.
“This city has a reputation of being a violent city,” she said. “ It’s the most violent cities in Ecuador with the highest crime rate. Locals know not to get involved in such cases and to just cooperate with the criminals.”
Efraim said that Ecuador has a large Israeli community, made up of mostly businessmen.
“There is a clear warning by the Foreign Ministry for all Israeli’s to avoid any confrontation with robbers and to simply cooperate with them,” she said. “I believe Mordechai knew that and cooperated with them.”
Efraim said arrangements to transfer Pravda’s body to Israel were underway. In addition, local police have launched an investigation into the incident and are set to transfer its findings to the consul.
