Suspect named in killing of prominent real estate developer Eldad Peri’s

The suspect in the recent killing of a prominent real estate developer was named on Wednesday as 64-year-old Daniel Keidar, a Rishon Lezion resident who had invested in one of Eldad Peri’s projects that went bust.

Keidar, who does not have a criminal record, was arrested on Sunday, several weeks after Peri was shot dead outside a synagogue in Rehovot.

According to Hebrew-language reports, Keidar bought apartments for himself and his son in one of Peri’s developments in the central city of Lod.

The Kan public broadcaster published correspondence on Sunday that it said was from a WhatsApp group of buyers in one of Peri’s projects that had gone bust.

“I am shocked and still have a hard time digesting the impudence and stupidity… about 2.5 million shekels, 200%, went down the drain,” Keidar reportedly wrote.

Keidar’s lawyer Sassy Gez told the outlet on Wednesday that his client was not involved in the killing.

“I’m sure my man is not in this matter, he’s not the type,” Gez said, suggesting that his client would be exonerated by ballistic findings.

Keidar’s Facebook page featured a post from two years ago in which he uploaded a photo of himself holding a gun and a target from a firing range, along with the caption: “Haven’t I already warned you not to mess with me?”

Investigators have been exploring several possible motives for the shooting, including that Peri was killed because he was deeply in debt. His real estate business had gone bankrupt over debts of hundreds of millions of shekels, and he was in deep personal debt as well.

Peri’s lawyer Benny Katz has said he was not been aware of any threats to his client’s life.

Police believe Peri was shot multiple times by an assassin who had arrived on a motorbike outside a synagogue frequented by Peri. The killer then fled the scene.