Thread by @RealZeist

For the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I'm reposting my analysis of the FOIA'ed photos depicting the five "Dancing Israelis" who were seen celebrating the attacks and who were arrested thereafter.

scribd.com/document/40969…

Thread 👇🏻

A total of 6 unique photos of the "Dancing Israelis" were released under FOIA so far. But the quality is quite poor and their faces are redacted. First, here are their mugshots. 🕔-wise from top-left: Sivan Kurzberg, Paul Kurzberg, Omer Marmari, Yaron Shmuel. Center: Oded Ellner.

Photo #1 (the FOIA contains 3 exposures of it). From L to R: Unknown (either Paul Kurzberg or Omer Marmari), Yaron Shmuel, Sivan Kurzberg, Oded Ellner. On the roof of Urban Moving Systems, 1720 Willow Ave, Weehawken NJ. All 5 met at UMS after 3 had been observed at Doric Towers.

Sivan Kurzberg is identifiable from clothing described in police report (gray/black shirt, torn blue jeans). Same with Yaron Shmuel (jean overalls). Oded Ellner is clearly the only one wearing a solid dark-colored shirt, from mugshot. Can't confidently ID other 2 at this time.

Photo #2. Unknown (either Omer Marmari or Paul Kurzberg). Appears to be holding lighter. Roof of Urban Moving Systems. Note, this can't be the photo of Sivan Kurzberg w/ lighter described by NYT (Sivan had gray/black shirt). That photo must not have been released by the FBI yet.

Also note that the Canon EOS Rebel 2000 timestamp in the bottom-left corner is wrong and should say 11 9'01, corresponding to default DD (M)M'YY format. The FBI noted this discrepancy (clearly they meant to write that the readout is 14h 41m early, not late).

Photo #3 (two exposures of same photo). Appears to show Sivan Kurzberg gesturing at WTC from the roof of Urban Moving Systems in Weehawken, NJ. Although his face is not visible, the FBI noted that "some of the Israelis appear visibly happy by the attacks" in multiple photos.

Photo #4 (3 exposures of it). Sivan Kurzberg (L) and Yaron Shmuel (R) on top of their Urban Moving Systems van. It was taken in the parking lot of Doric Towers, 100 Manhattan Ave, Union City, NJ, where S. Kurzberg, Shmuel, and Ellner were spotted prior to all 5 meeting at UMS.

Photo #5 (3 exposures of it). Oded Ellner (L) and Yaron Shmuel (R) at Doric Towers in Union City, NJ. Again, Doric is where S. Kurzberg, Shmuel, and Ellner were spotted celebrating by witnesses who then called the police. Police put a BOLO out for their van's license plate #.

Photo #6 (two exposures of same photo). Unknown (either Paul Kurzberg or Omer Marmari) on left and Sivan Kurzberg on right. On the roof of Urban Moving Systems in Weehawken, NJ.

According to FBI docs, there were 76 photographic negatives recovered from the Dancing Israelis in total, meaning 70 photos remain unreleased.

Finally, here is a composite photo I made with their mugshots showing Yaron Shmuel, Sivan Kurzberg, and Oded Ellner on the roof of Urban Moving Systems. Since these three were the only ones whose identities I could confidently 'unredact', the other man is cropped out.