Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Beinish: There is air of contempt for human life
At ceremony opening Israel Bar Association's judicial year Supreme Court president addresses recent wave of violence sweeping nation; defends courts, which are accused of causing problem by handing down light sentences. 'Causes of delinquency rooted in social failures, tough socio-economic background'
Twenty-two people were murdered since the start of August, and the toll keeps rising, with the latest victim, a Ramat-Gan shop owner, being stabbed to death Monday morning.
The recent wave of violence has prompted much criticism of judges, who have been accused of handing down light sentences to criminals. But Monday night, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish said the problem's roots run much deeper.
Violent Toll
Yael Branovsky
Welfare minister tells Ynet government plan will focus on civilians exposed to violent death of family member
"The source of this serious delinquency runs deeper than sentencing," she said, speaking at a ceremony marking the opening of the Israel Bar Association's new judicial year.
"The Israeli public has been exposed to a wave of serious violence, an air of contempt for human life, and is subject to harm, both of body and honor, from organized criminals in crime families on the one hand, and from 'independent' criminals that operate unrestrained and brutally."
She called the recent incidents of murder and violence "delinquent terror" and said it "undermines security in our places, in our cities, in our streets, and even in our homes".
The Supreme Court president said the courts hold a central and important role in protecting the public, by deterring and punishing the offenders, and rebuffed claims that light sentencing on the part of the courts is what leads to the delinquent behavior.
"The causes of delinquency are rooted, among other things, in social failures, in the social background, in a tough socio-economic background, and other cause which this is neither the time nor place to discuss at length," she said.
