Terror victims group hints at vigilantism after lynch case sentencing

The head of an Israeli terror victims’ rights association castigated the “light” sentence given to four Israeli Arab men on Thursday for their involvement in a lynch mob that killed a Jewish terrorist seven years ago, saying — in a hint at vigilantism — that it would give Israelis license to seek out renegade justice.

“A few months to two years (with a third lopped off), are a reasonable price many Israelis would be happy to pay to bring justice to the same terrorists who will be released in the end through disgusting deals,” Meir Indor, director of Almagor, said in a statement.

“This is great news for bereaved families who have been watching their loved ones’ murderers being released from prison without serving out the entirety of their sentences, if you know what I mean,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the Haifa District Court handed out jail terms to seven men convicted in the 2005 lynching of Jewish terrorist Eden Natan Zada, an AWOL IDF soldier who opened fire in a public bus in the northern city of Shfaram, killing four, and was afterward beaten to death by a mob.

Four of the defendants, found guilty of attempted manslaughter, assaulting a police officer, rioting and interfering with a police investigation, received prison sentences ranging from 20 months to two years.

A fifth defendant, found guilty of all the charges except attempted manslaughter, was sentenced to 18 months. A sixth defendant facing lesser charges was sentenced to 11 months in prison and the seventh defendant received eight months’ probation.

The statement by Indor, a former Lt. Col. in the IDF, was likely referring to a number of prisoner release deals made over the years, including the recent freeing of 52 Palestinian inmates as part of an agreement to restart peace talks.

Almagor has been at the forefront of a lobbying effort against prisoner releases, petitioning the High Court for an injunction against the releases.

Itamar Ben Gvir, a lawyer and right wing activist, compared the ruling to the life sentence handed down to Yoram Skolnick, who shot a bound Arab terrorist to death after catching him stabbing an Israeli in 1993.

“Yoram Skolnick, who killed an armed terrorist, was sentenced to dozens of years, but someone who lynched Eden will go home after a short time,” he said. “The judicial system needs to do some soul searching today.”

Skolnick, who said he thought the terrorist had a grenade, was released after seven years.

Indor accused the court of being cowed by protesters outside and said a double standard had been set for Jews and Arabs.

However, Knesset member Issawi Frej, of the left-wing Meretz party, said the ruling was too harsh. “Today the court condemned the victim,” he said in a statement, adding that the decision “increases the sense of discrimination and racism” against Israeli Arabs.

Frej said the condemned men had acted in “self defense” and prevented a “torrent of blood” by killing Natan Zada. He urged President Shimon Peres to intervene on behalf of the convicts.

In Haifa, riots broke out after the sentences were announced.

At least one of the convicts said he would appeal the sentencing.

“Unfortunately, the state wants to turn us into terrorists instead of granting us letters of appreciation and commendation,” another of the convicted men said, according to Ynet.