Palestinian police officer convicted of murder

Palestinian who murdered Israeli Border Guard officer in 2000 sentenced to 55 years in prison. Convict dismisses notion he will carry out full term, says he will undoubtedly be released in prisoner exchange, then continue killing
Efrat Weiss

The Salem Military Court in Samaria sentenced on Wednesday Na'al Yassin, a Palestinian police officer who murdered Border Guard Officer Yossi Tabijah in September of 2000, to a life term and an additional 30 years, to be served consecutively.

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According to the indictment, on September 29, 2000 the convict participated in a patrol arranged together with the Border Guard. The two patrol vehicles, belonging to the Border Guard and the Palestinian police, parked next to the West Bank city of Qalqilya, at which point Yassin exited the Palestinian vehicle and began to shoot at the Israeli car, crying "Allah Akbar." As a result Tabijah was killed and another officer was wounded.

A representative from the prosecution described the shooting as "an atrocity that no words can describe." He added that the defendant "is an animal who hates life. In addition to Tabija he attempted to murder his patrol colleagues without hesitation and in cold blood. He shot whole cartridges at the vehicles and even changed magazines numerous times in order to continue shooting."

The representative also mentioned that during some of the hearings, the defendant claimed he would continue to kill after he is released from jail during prisoner exchanges. "His ambitions can be summed up in one sentence: Kill, kill, kill, as many innocent people as possible," he concluded.

On Wednesday the convict declared that he does not recognize Israel's right to exist. "Israel killed 4,000 of our people and we have killed 1,000 of hers. If you want peace, go back to Europe."

Yassin was also convicted of other numerous crimes, such as manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of weapons.