Last update - 00:00 25/12/2006
Two settlers given jail terms for attack on Palestinian shepherds
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent
Two residents of the West Bank settlement of Nokdim were sentenced Monday to jail terms of seven and eight months for an attack on Palestinian shepherds nearly three years ago.
In February 2004, Dan Halmish and his brother, Yithak Halmish, set out along with the head of security for the Sde Bar settlement outpost, Baruch Feldbaum, in order to help him disperse Palestinian shepherds who were situated nearby along with their herd.
When the Palestinians refused to leave, Dan Halmish began punching one of them, while his brother knocked another one down with his gun. The brothers' dog also attacked the shepherds.
The two brothers subsequently fired several shots in the vicinity of the shepherds' feet, and four of the Palestinians were wounded by ricochets.
Jerusalem Magistrate's Court presiding judge, Amnon Cohen, ruled that given the fact that the two claim they were acting to defend the settlement, the case must be seen in a similar light as cases in which police and soldiers have transgressed while on duty.
"We must denunciated the defendants' actions," wrote Cohen. "The use of unnecessary violence committed by a group, while taking advantage of their position and role as the settlements' on-call security team, and given that they were armed - it is fitting that that should result in a significant punishment."
Dan Halmish was sentenced to seven months in prison and a NIS 4,000 fine - NIS 1,000 for each of the four wounded Palestinians. Yitzhak Halmish was sentenced to eight months in prison and an identical fine. The brothers also received six months of community service each.