Rabbanit Sivan Ohayon; Photo credit: Flash90
Monday, October 26, 2020, 10:54 On the morning of Monday, October 26, a hearing in the trial of Khalil Abed Alhalaq Mahmed Duikat, the terrorist who murdered Rabbi Shai Ohayon, Hy”d, in Petah Tikva in August, began at the Central District Court in Lod. At the start of the hearing, the assessment by the district psychiatrist who examined the terrorist and determined that he is fit to stand trial and is responsible for his actions was submitted. The terrorist and his attorneys had claimed that he was not fit to stand trial.
The previous day, the High Court of Justice rejected a petition filed by the terrorist and a radical left-wing organization, “HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual”, and ruled that the IDF is authorized to demolish his house. Justice Noam Solberg wrote the majority of the ruling, which received the support of Justice Yael Willner. Justice Menachem (Meni) Mazuz dissented.
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who is representing the Ohayon family and assisting them with realizing their rights as victims of terror: “As it turns out time after time, Israel is coping with a cruel, inconsistent enemy whose only desire is to murder Jews for being Jewish. Faced with murderous intents, the State of Israel must fight without fear of either the enemy from without or certain elements from within who hold centers of power and actively weaken Israel’s security.
“There are foreign-funded organizations that aid terrorists immediately after every attack and they do not refrain from stating any claim [no matter how implausible]. From their point of view, a terrorist may be exempted from standing trial by fabricating emotional conditions, and the demolition of terrorists’ houses may be prevented by bringing ridiculous and mendacious claims. Unfortunately, at times there are judges in the courts who support this line of thinking. We are pleased that in this case the petition was not accepted and also the terrorist will stand trial.”