Court okays house demolition for terrorist who killed teen

The Supreme Court approves a demolition order for the home of Muhammad Nasser Tarayrah, who stabbed to death 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel in her bed in June, saying family members were at least partially aware of his intentions and supported them after the fact.

The Defense Ministry will now be able to either demolish or seal off the second floor of the building in which the Tarayrah family lives.

Reproduction photo, courtesy of the family, of Hallel Yaffa Ariel, 13, who was stabbed and killed in a terror attack in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, in the West Bank on June 30, 2016 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Reproduction photo, courtesy of the family, of Hallel Yaffa Ariel, 13, who was stabbed and killed in a terror attack in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, in the West Bank on June 30, 2016 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

While the order was upheld, the court did alter it, refusing the state’s request to demolish not only the second floor, but the first and third floors of the building as well.

In their decision, the judges in the case — Yoram Danziger, Uzi Vogelman and Noam Sohlberg — cite the fact that the family was “aware that the terrorist identified with the idea of carrying out a terror attack against innocent civilians” as justification for the home demolition.

The justices also note the Facebook posts published by Muhammad, which his brother admitted to having seen prior to the attack, as well as statements made by his sister after the fact, praising her brother’s actions.

The court will allow the family 10 days for “preparation” before the residence is cleared for demolition.

— Judah Ari Gross

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