Court rejects state’s appeal for harsher sentence for Jewish rock throwers

The Supreme Court rejects an appeal by the state to overturn a lower court’s decision not to give a prison sentence to two Jewish teenagers who threw rocks at Palestinian cars in the West Bank, Israel Radio reports.

The state argued that the rock throwing attack on Palestinians was a “grave incident” that required a “clear and distinct message” that such actions come at a “steep price,” according to the radio report.

The rock throwing occurred in the summer of 2014, after three Israeli teenagers had been kidnapped and murdered. The two Jewish rock throwers had come from a prayer service for the kidnapped teenagers.

The lower court determined that the rock throwers did not require a prison sentence as they expressed regret and an interest in joining the IDF, and because no damage was caused by the attack.

The court required them to perform community service, in lieu of prison time.