‘Martyred’ Arab Terrorist Sentenced for Pisgat Ze’ev Teen’s Stabbing

Ahmed Manasra, the Arab teen terrorist who stabbed and critically wounded a 12-year-old Jewish boy in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Yerushalayim in October, was convicted Tuesday on two counts of attempted murder. The 14-year-old Arab, who was 13 when he carried out the attack, had expressed hope of killing a Jew and being himself killed, in order to be considered a “martyr,” prosecutors said.

The Jewish victim, Naor Ben Ezra, was critically wounded in the attack in Pisgat Ze’ev as he rode his bicycle, but made a miraculous recovery, and in December he was released from the hospital, celebrating his bar mitzvah at the Kosel. He was present Tuesday to hear the reading of the sentencing of his attacker.

Mansara made international headlines when Palestinian Authority chief publicly accused Israeli police of “executing” him. Large rallies were held in PA-controlled areas, and international headlines highlighted the “trigger-happy” Israeli police who killed an Arab youth who had been involved in nothing more than a “street fight” – until photos of Mansara receiving treatment in an Israeli hospital were distributed by the Health Ministry. In one of the photos, Mansara is seen holding up an index finger into the air, in a gesture like that of IS terrorists.

Overnight Monday, security officials said they arrested 10 wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.