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Last update - 01:34 12/09/2006
Shvut Rachel man convicted of murdering 5 Arabs in attempt to derail disengagement
By Yuval Yoaz

The Jerusalem District Court yesterday convicted Asher Weisgan of murdering four Arab workmen and wounding a fifth at a factory in the settlement of Gilo where they all worked, the day before the implementation of the Gaza disengagement plan last August. Weisgan, a settler from Shvut Rachel, said his objective had been to prevent the disengagement from proceeding.

"Even if the accused thought, and we do not believe he thought so, that his actions would be welcome in God's eyes, they are not worthy in man's eyes," wrote judges Orit Efaal-Gabay, Aharon Farkash and Moshe Ravid.
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At the end of the work day at the factory, Weisgan gave four Arab workmen a ride in his car, snatched an M-16 rifle from the guard and used it to shoot his four passengers, killing three of them and wounding the fourth. Then he ran toward the factory and shot another workman. He then turned himself in to the security officer who arrived on the scene.

Weisgan claimed at his trial that he had "caused the death of innocents in order to thereby prevent harsh decrees and disasters that would be imposed on the people of Israel from heaven as a result of the disengagement being implemented." His lawyer argued that Weisgan is exempt from criminal culpability because he acted in "necessary defense" - "He wanted to save the people of Israel from expected calamities through the act of murder, and should therefore be acquitted." The judges rejected the argument.
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