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Palestinian terrorist who murdered 2 Israelis sentenced to life in prison

An Israeli court on Monday meted out justice to a Palestinian terrorist who murdered two Israeli civilians and wounded a third in an attack in Tel Aviv last year.  

A Palestinian terrorist who murdered two Israelis and wounded a third victim in Tel Aviv last November was sentenced on Monday by Tel Aviv’s District Court to two life sentences and another 20 years after being convicted of two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

The court also ordered him to pay NIS 700,000 to the families of the victims.

The court further ruled that because of the extraordinary circumstances of the attack, the defendant could seek clemency only after serving 100 years of his sentence.

The terrorist, Raed Khalil, 36 of the village of Dura near Hebron, stabbed and murdered Reuven Aviram, 51, and Aharon Yesayev, 32, and wounded another victim as they exited the afternoon prayers.

Witnesses recounted how they rushed into the synagogue after the attack began and held the door shut while the terrorist tried to force his way in and carry on with his attack.

The terrorist was caught by by-passers and before being arrested by police who arrived at the scene.

Khalil, a father of five, exploited a work permit he received from Israel to enter the country and commit the attack. He took the murder weapon he used from the restaurant he worked at.

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According to the indictment, Khalil carried out the attack with the hope of attaining the status of Shahid, a term of Islamic glorification used for national heroes and those who have died while waging Jihad, Muslim holy war, against the infidels.

Alex Aviram, Reuven’s brother, who was in court for the sentencing, said the family had been anticipating this day. “The murderer does not need to see light and should not see his family,” he said. “According to the new law, he will not be able to be released in the framework of a [future] prisoner swap. His place is in prison for his entire life.”

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News