A few dozen Bedouins protested on Sunday outside the Beersheba District Court against the recent acquittal of a Negev farmer who shot and killed 25-year-old Bedouin Khaled al-Atrash, who broke into his farm two years ago.
The court acquitted Shai Dromi of manslaughter on Wednesday, citing reasonable doubt.
The demonstrators waved signs reading "Dromi is the judge and the executioner" and "Shooting someone in the back is not self-defense".
Bedouin Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) called Dromi a "criminal" and "first degree murderer" and demanded that the State Prosecution appeal his acquittal.
Khaled al-Atrash's father Ahmad said during the rally that Dromi could have easily chased his son away by yelling in his direction.
Another protestor compared the affair to the lynching ofJewish terrorist Eden Natan Zada. "When the residents of Shfaram protected themselves when Zada came at them with a rifle, they were put on trial," she said.
Judge Joshua A. Pilpel and Judge Rachel Barkai voted in favor of acquitting Dromi, while Judge Ariel Vago objected.
"The circumstances were forced on Dromi, who only sought to keep the burglar away against his will," said the ruling. Justice Pilpel added that Dromi had fired his weapons out of fear for his life.
According to the judge, in the years prior to the incident, Dromi had suffered a series of harassments for which he filed 15 police complaints.