Elad Attack Terrorists’ Sentencing Delayed Over Security Concerns

By Yoni Weiss

One year after their conviction, the terrorists responsible for the attack in Elad two years ago have yet to be sentenced.

According to Kan News reports, the Israel Prison Service refuses to transport them to court, citing a “security risk.”

The IPS claims that bringing them to court poses a security threat based on intelligence, particularly in light of the war in Gaza. Consequently, their sentencing has been postponed three times already, despite the courts resuming regular operations several months ago.

Since sentencing requires the presence of the defendants, the postponed sentencing, originally scheduled for this week, has been rescheduled for September due to the IPS’s refusal to bring them to court.

During their trial in the District Court in Lod last May, the two terrorists confessed and were convicted of four counts of murder, attempted murder, acts of terror under severe circumstances, causing severe injuries, and illegal entry into Israel. Upon conviction, they were expected to receive four life sentences plus an additional 20 years imprisonment.

Some two years ago, Palestinian Arab terrorists As’ad al-Rifa’i, 20, and Sabhi Abu Shakir, 21, arrived in the city, stabbed the driver who transported them, and threw him out of the vehicle. Subsequently, they proceeded on foot, murdering three more civilians with axes before fleeing the scene. They were apprehended after a three-day manhunt by security forces.