‘Jewish terrorist’ appeals life sentences

Jack Tytell, an American-born Israeli Jew who faces life in jail for the murder of Palestinians, appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

In his petition, Tytell said that in handing down his sentence the Jerusalem District Court had ignored evidence of his mental state, which affected his responsibility for his actions.

During a hearing earlier this year, the court rejected Tytell’s claim he was insane at the time of the murders, finding him accountable for his crimes, which he had confessed to committing.

Tytell was convicted in January of murdering two Palestinians and wounding two Israelis. He was sentenced in April to two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years’ jail time and was ordered to pay NIS 680,000 ($190,000) compensation to the victims’ families.

In April Tytell, in court to hear his sentence, expressed no regret and said he was “proud” of his actions.

Arrested in 2009, he admitted to carrying out at least seven terror attacks that killed two Palestinians and injured three over the course of 12 years. The 40-year-old Florida native also attacked Jews he suspected of missionary activity.

During his sentencing hearing in January, Israel’s state prosecution asked that the man dubbed the “Jewish terrorist” be locked up “until the end of his days” and said he “trampled, in his actions, every possible value human society is founded upon.”

Tytell’s acts of incitement and calls to replace the State of Israel with a totalitarian Jewish monarchy, along with his encouragement of violence against those who didn’t share his views, were acts that “undermine the foundations of a democratic society,” prosecuting attorney Sagi Ofir said.

Aaron Kalman contributed to this report.