The state prosecution on Wednesday announced its intent to object to a petition to the High Court submitted by the father of the Arab boy Mohammed Abu Khdeir who was murdered by three Jews in 2014. The petition requests that the state demolish the homes of the families of Abu Khdeir’s killers, the way it does in cases where Arab terrorists murder Jews.
The prosecution argued that it would be a mistake to treat Jewish and Arab terrorism equally. “Of course, every act of terrorism is unacceptable,” the prosecution wrote in its statement, “but we cannot ignore the gap in the scope of terrorism carried out by Palestinians and eastern Jerusalem Arabs compared with terror which is carried out by Jews.”
The kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir took place in the early morning of July 2, 2014, one day after the burial of three Israeli teens who had been kidnapped and murdered by Hamas agents. Abu Khdeir, a 16-year-old Arab, was forced into a car by three young Jews on a street in eastern Jerusalem. Police located his charred body a few hours later at Givat Shaul in the Jerusalem Forest. The autopsy results suggested he had been beaten and set on fire while still alive.
The murder was condemned by the families of the three murdered Israeli teens, who sent Abu Khdeir’s family their condolences. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas blamed the murder on Israel and demanded that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemn it “as we condemned the kidnapping of the three Israelis.” However, when Israel included Abu Khdeir in the Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial at Mount Herzl, his family insisted that his name be removed at once.
In February 4, 2016, two minors who participated in the Abu Khdeir murder were sentenced, one receiving life imprisonment, the other 21 years. The court ruled that their leader was Yosef Haim Ben-David, who was sent for psychiatric evaluation. On February 22, 2016, a court appointed psychiatrist testified that Ben-David was fit to stand trial, and on April 19, 2016 he was found guilty of murder. While awaiting sentencing, Ben David tried to commit suicide in his cell. On May 3, 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.
