Israeli Police: Gay Killings Not a Hate Crime

Israeli police say the killing of two people at a gay youth center in Tel Aviv four years ago is no longer being treated as a hate crime.

Police arrested four suspects this week in connection with the killing, originally seen as the most serious homophobic attack in a country that is fairly gay-friendly.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that the motive behind the killing was of a personal nature. He said the suspects intended to shoot someone else at the center. Instead, they opened fire on the two people they killed. Other details of the case are under court gag order.

The two dead were a 26-year-old counselor and a 17-year-old girl. Gay community leaders still claim the victims were killed because of their sexual orientation.