Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher; Photo credit: Honenu
Monday, March 31, 2025, 8:08 During Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021), terrorists attacked a Jewish family who had lost their way and drove into the village of Zalafa in Wadi Ara. Two of the terrorists were sentenced to seven and four years’ imprisonment. The Supreme Court later reduced their sentences to five years and 33 months, respectively. Recently, the Supreme Court canceled the already very lenient seven-month prison sentence handed down to an additional terrorist who took part in the attack. He will not serve the sentence due to issues with his health. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher is representing the family.
The indictment describes how the terrorists and dozens of additional rioters chased the family’s car while throwing rocks at it and anything else they could grab. One of the rioters rammed his car into the family’s car, destroying the rear bumper. The rioters blocked the family’s car, climbed on the roof, shattered the windshields, and tried to pull the family out of their car. The mother shielded her children from the beating and the rocks with her body. One large rock was thrown directly into her face from point blank range. After a long time, the family were rescued and transported for medical treatment.
Attorney Bleicher leveled sharp criticism at the Supreme Court for the lenient sentencing: “The terrorists took part in a brutal attack. A bloodthirsty mob tried to murder an Israeli family. Israeli citizens are coping with many fronts in the war on terror, on the borders and in cities. Harsh penalization for terrorists who formed mobs and took part in attempted murders during Operation Guardian of the Walls is crucial for Israeli security, even when they are sentenced several years after the attacks. It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court is handing down rulings that are detrimental to penalization, deterrence, and the security of all Israeli citizens.”