Israeli court approves 18-year term for Palestinian killer

An Israeli court on Monday sentenced a Palestinian to 18 years in jail for causing the death of an Israeli motorist, as part of a plea deal, the decision read.

Jerusalem district court approved the plea bargain in which Abed Dawiat, 20, was convicted of manslaughter for throwing stones at a car in September 2015 in East Jerusalem, causing the death of Alexander Levlovitz.

The plea bargain was accepted by Dawiat last November and finalized by the court’s Monday approval.

Four other Palestinians were involved in the stoning attack that took place on the Jewish New Year, but two could not be identified as they were minors, the court said.

The other two non-minor suspects are Muhammad Salah Muhammad Abu Kaf, 18 and Walid Fares Mustafa Atrash, 18.

Dawiat, who was also found guilty of firebombing security forces in 2014, was ordered by the court to pay Levlovitz’s children NIS 100,000 ($26,370).

Alexander Levlovitz, 64, who died when he lost control of his car and crashed after terrorists threw rocks at his vehicle in Jerusalem, September 13, 2015. (Courtesy)

Levlovitz’s killing took place a few weeks ahead of the latest outburst of violence between Palestinians and Israelis, which has waned over the past six months though sporadic attacks continue. The latest attack occurred on January 8 when a Palestinian truck driver rammed his vehicle into a group of soldiers at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem, killing four of them and injuring a dozen.

Since October 2015, 40 Israelis, two Americans and an Eritrean national have been killed in stabbing, car-ramming and shooting attacks. According to AFP figures, some 250 Palestinians, a Jordanian and a Sudanese migrant have also been killed, most of them in the course of carrying out attacks, Israel says, and many of the others in clashes with troops in the West Bank and at the Gaza border, as well as in Israeli airstrikes in the Strip.

Israel blames incitement by Palestinian leaders and media as a leading cause of violence.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, comatose peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.