During the discussion in the military court in Salem against the driver of the terrorist who murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevach, HY"D, the family members requested from the judges to impose on him the highest possible punishment. Attorney Bleicher from the organization "Honenu" stated: "We expect that the time has come to start implementing both deterrent punishment and deterrence towards the entire terrorist environment."
This morning (Wednesday), the military court in Salem deliberated on sentencing arguments for a member of the terrorist cell that murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevach, HY"D, about five and a half years ago. The defendant is Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Qunba'a, born in Jenin, who was the driver of the vehicle that transported the shooter. He was convicted of intentional manslaughter, shooting towards a person, obstructing investigation proceedings, and additional charges.
In light of these charges, the prosecution requested in their sentencing arguments to impose two life imprisonments on the terrorist, in addition to financial compensation for the Shevach family. Attorney Chaim Bleicher, representing the family, from the "Honenu" organization, along with Rabbi Shevach's parents and widow, attended the hearing.
During the hearing, Moshe Shevach, the father of the late Raziel, spoke about his family's situation since the attack: "I imposed upon my family not to come in order not to reopen the wounds they experienced from that day," Shevach said during the hearing. "Our entire world was shattered. The children, including my wife, are under medication. We're trying to lead our lives, but obviously, it's not possible. We will of course demand the death penalty because he is a death-bringer. We have no doubt that this request won't be fulfilled according to the leniency that we know is practiced in the courts. We will at least ask for a life imprisonment and that the highest punishment to be imposed upon him."
Raziel's widow, Yael Shevach, spoke briefly during the hearing and said, "Our son Benayahu is now 6 and a half years old, starting first grade. He's the youngest among them. Three of them didn't enter first grade with their father. I am very afraid of this day, to go to first grade when there are so many fathers around hugging their children who are starting first grade. I talk a lot about them because it's hard for me to talk about myself. They have me to try to give them as much as possible of what he would have given them, to feel this immense love that he could have given them, and for me, I only have them. It's a lot, but it's never enough. Nothing can bring him back. Nothing can fill this void."
"The maximum I think is to feel that at least no one will benefit from this. I believe that it's only appropriate that a person who cruelly took the life of a father of six children and a loving, devoted spouse, a man of Torah, kindness, righteousness—such a person should not remain among the living in our midst. At the very least, it should be clear that if there's someone that such an act invokes inspiration and is worthy of identifying with, he should regret it before he begins to do something about it. That he knows his fate is death. If not, then at least his life should not be a life. That in every possible way his life should be affected, whether in the general sense or on the emotional, familial, and personal levels," Shabach added.
Attorney Chaim Bleicher, representing the Shevach family from the Honenu organization, stated at the end of the trial: "We are now concluding the arguments for the sentencing of one of the murderers of the late Rabbi Raziel Shevach, HY"D. This is a cruel terrorist cell who committed numerous attacks with the aim of killing as many Jews as possible, and then received cover from a population supportive of terror. We believe that beyond the punishment the terrorist should receive, at the very least two life sentences as requested by the prosecution, and also the compensation that should be imposed upon him as much as possible, it is time to initiate a deterrent and warning punishment towards the entire terror environment."
"Once we realize that there is a population supporting terrorism and they are part of the same crime, then the way to deal with terrorism is through deterrent punishment against the population cooperating with it. We need to demolish the terrorists' homes time after time, expel the families. It's true that the parents of the terrorist won't be able to attend the trial as they did today, because they will no longer be part of the land of Israel but rather in Syria or anywhere else. Only this way will we achieve deterrence, utilize our citizens' lives, and enhance our security," Attorney Bleicher added.