The Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday, 24 Iyar, handed down a 15-year prison term and a compensatory fine of NIS 200,000 against Yehoshua Elitzur, who was convicted in the death of an Arab in 2005, and then fled to Brazil.

Elitzur, whose name before he converted was Yehonas Anglit Veimer, was driving a private vehicle near the Beit Fouriq Checkpoint towards Elon Moreh. He passed the vehicle driven by Tzil a-Shatiya of Salim, waved his gun and order him to stop, and then shot him dead.

After he fled Israel, an arrest warrant was issued by Interpol and a number of months ago, he was extradited after being arrested in Saint Paulo, Brazil.

The court ruled the defendant shot and killed the victim for no reason whatsoever, and after passengers screamed to call for medical assistance, he ignored their shouts. The defendant never called for medical assistance. The court rejected any attempt to claim self-defense because the victim’s vehicle headed towards him.

In light of the findings, it was determined by the court that the defendant was not in a life-threatening situation and he simply thought one who is not a Jew is a potential terrorist. The court sentenced him and said he will be in prison for many years, and he will have time to learn and understand the value of life.

Elitzur apologized to the family, adding there is no doubt he was in life threatening danger. “It is a very very dangerous place; many things could have occurred. However, I understand from their perspective, the loss for the family was a great one”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)