An Israeli court sentenced three Palestinian teenagers to more than a decade in prison Monday for stabbing Israelis, including a 14-year-old involved in one of the most high-profile attacks. The sentences drew criticism from Palestinians and rights activists who said the youths should not be given such long jail terms.
Ahmed Manasra, 14, was sentenced to 12 years after having earlier been found guilty of the attempted murder of two Israelis, a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy. He was 13 at the time of the October 2015 attack in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem.
The stabbings led to a propaganda war between Palestinians and Israelis, sparked by surveillance footage later released of the incident. Manasra carried out the attack along with his 15-year-old cousin Hassan, who was shot dead by security forces. The two Israelis were seriously wounded. In addition to the jail term, the Jerusalem district court ordered Manasra to pay 80,000 shekels ($21,000, 19,000 euros) in compensation to the adult victim and 100,000 to the boy, the ruling said.
His lawyer Lea Tsemel said she planned to appeal the sentence. The sentencing and trial were closed to journalists because Manasra is a minor. Prosecutors had requested 12 years.
In a separate case, the court sentenced a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old to 11 years in prison for stabbing a Jew in Jerusalem's Old City in January. "International standards are clear that all efforts should be directed towards rehabilitation of the child," Sari Bashi of Human Rights Watch told AFP. "Such long sentences raise questions regarding Israel's commitment to work towards rehabilitating the children."
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