Border policeman Ben Deri released from prison

Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 19:54 On Wednesday, January 2, after a deliberation at which the Attorney General’s office objected to the decision, the Shita Prison parole board ordered the early release of border policeman Ben Deri due to good behavior.
On Naqba Day in May 2014, in the course of an operational activity quelling mass disturbances, Ben Deri, a border policeman, shot and killed a rioter near the town of Beitunia. He was convicted of causing the death of a rioter and eventually sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Honenu Attorney Adi Keidar, who represented Ben Deri before the parole board: “The objection of the Attorney General’s office to the parole of Ben Deri is outrageous and carries with it a strong feeling of persecution. The same office falsely accused him of manslaughter, for which he was exonerated, and also demanded that a stiff penalty be handed down to him, as if he were a serial criminal and not someone who defended public order for the sake of his country while the deceased and his friends were assaulting the security forces.”
Attorney Tzion Amir, who represented Ben Deri in the case, added that, “I am very pleased that Ben Deri has been released and that his sentence has been reduced by one third. Along with the satisfaction, it is impossible not to express deep sorrow over what one of our border policemen was forced to endure before this moment came. In my opinion, the fact that the Attorney General’s office objected to the parole is very hard to accept. It is not an exaggeration for me to say that it is shocking to object to the parole of a border policeman who risked his life for the sake of defending the State of Israel. All is well that ends well, and I welcome the decision.”