Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., October 30, 2008 Cheshvan 1, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:25 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

Alleged burglar shot, killed by Shfela homeowner By Yuval Goren and Shahar Ilan The Ramle Magistrates Court has released a man who shot and killed an intruder prior to his breaking into the man's home early Tuesday morning. According to reports, the homeowner had shot at a group of men outside his home and hit one of them, who died a few hours later in the hospital. The homeowner was brought to court under a strict blanket of secrecy and a gag order is in effect on all details of the affair. Advertisement The incident began around 4:00 A.M. when a resident of a Shfela area community was awoken by voices near his home. When he stepped out of the house to investigate, he found a group of men who the police suspect were attempting to break into his home. The man said he feared for his life and that of his family, and shot at the suspected burglars with his pistol. One intruder was wounded and the rest fled. Within minutes, police arrived along with a Magen David Adom ambulance, which evacuated the wounded man to Assaf Harofe Hospital where he died from his wounds. He was a 24-year-old West Bank resident with no valid permit to be in Israel and a criminal record. The homeowner was brought to the Lod police station where he told investigators he acted in self defense. He was later released after posting a NIS 20,000 bond and ordered not to leave the country for 60 days. His father, a farmer, told Haaretz yesterday that "the problem is we are exposed, the law des not protect us, nor the police or the courts." The father also said he was worried the dead man's family would attempt to take revenge. Neighbors complained yesterday that they have no protection and almost every night another house is broken into. The head of the Modiin Regional Council, Shimon Siso, called on Public Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) to increase enforcement in the region and return a feeling of security to residents. The shooting comes nearly four months after the Knesset approved a broad version of what is know as the "Shai Dromi law," which exempts anyone who kills or injures an intruder in his home, business or farm from criminal responsibility. Dromi, a Negev farmer, shot and killed a man who broke into his property in January 2007. He was arrested and held for a prolonged period, indicted for manslaughter and is now under house arrest awaiting trial. In response, MKs Titzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beiteinu) and Yisrael Katz (Likud) sponsored the law on defending property. The law, passed last June, states: "A person shall not be held criminally responsible for an action that was immediately necessary to repel someone breaking into or entering a residence, place of business or fenced farm belonging to him or others." Intruders are described as those "with the intention of perpetrating a crime, or someone trying to break in." The law expands the definition of self-defense to include those who fear imminent danger from intruders. However, the law does not apply in a case where the act of self-defense was "patently unreasonable," or in the event a provocation led to the break-in, but does provide penalties for someone who acts "unreasonably." Politicians on both sides of the battle over the Dromi law said yesterday's fatal incident proved they were correct. "That is exactly what the law was intended to do," said MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu). "Three [intruders] came, and no one knows if they would have killed the resident," added Rotem. Katz said the homeowner "acted properly." MK Moshe Sharoni (Pensioners), an enthusiastic supporter of the Dromi law, also said the incident again proves the necessity for the law and labeled the shooting as justified: "Every thief needs to know he is endangering [himself] and maybe this will stop his thieving." MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz-Yahad), one of the chief opponents of the law, said the law exempted people from trying to wound, and not kill, the intruder. "The easiest thing to do is to shoot to kill," said Gal-On. "Everything I warned of happened earlier than I thought," she added. MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) denounced the law as enabling executions, saying he hopes the next Knesset will revoke the law. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Damaging remarks Right-wing MK Lieberman says Egyptian president Mubarak can "go to hell." Joe on Israel Overnight media sensation says Obama presidency would spell "death of Israel."

Read & React Joe the Plumber: A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel Responses: 415 L.A. Times defends decision not to release clip of Obama with Palestinian critic of Israel Responses: 124 Syria demands UN action against U.S. over raid Responses: 113 IDF soldiers protect Palestinian olive farmers from settlers Responses: 82 Aluf Benn: Americans must worry first about America, not Israel Responses: 56 Bradley Burston: Voting as a religious experience Responses: 8 More Headlines 00:45 Lieberman: Mubarak can 'go to hell'; Egypt responds: Lieberman is a racist 20:05 Biden, in Florida, stresses his, Obama's commitment to Israel 22:29 Iran's supreme leader: Hatred for U.S. runs deep 00:48 Netanyahu rebuffs Shas bid to control Education Ministry 00:52 U.S. may close Damascus embassy in wake of Syria strike 23:50 International summit on status of Israel-PA talks scheduled for next month 00:00 Wiesenthal Center gets green light to build museum on ancient Muslim cemetery 23:28 Kosher U.S. meatpacker fined $10m over labor law violations 17:18 Court approves right-wing march through the heart of one of Israel's largest Arab cities 20:26 Barak to officials: Take action against right-wing activists in West Bank 16:03 IDF troops kill Palestinian farmer, 68, near Jenin 10:51 Protest boat arrives in Gaza, despite Israel's vow to block it 14:22 Joe the Plumber: A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel 10:52 4 Palestinians claim descent from Jews forced to convert Previous Editions Select Day 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 20 oct 19 oct 17 oct 16 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved