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Mohammed Anbatawi, 23, sentenced to life imprisonment Mon. for killing a soldier. (Itzik Ben-Malki) Last update - 17:19 17/12/2007 Galilee militant gets life term for kidnap-murder of IDF soldier By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Anbatawi, Hatib, Shaichat  Mohammed Anbatawi, 23, a member of a group of Israeli Arabs which authorities have called a terrorist organization, was sentenced Monday to life imprisonment for the murder of IDF soldier Oleg Shaichat in July 2003. Anbatawi, 23 of the village of Kafr Kana, was convicted two months ago of having carried out the murder as a member of "Hofshiyei Hagalil" (Liberators of the Galilee). Advertisement Authorities have said the group has been active in the Lower Galilee, and that its goal is to harm the security of the state in retaliation for what it terms "the killing of the residents of the West Bank and Israel's actions in the territories." A tumult erupted in the Nazareth Magistrate's Court as the sentence was read on Monday. Anbatawi's family screamed at the judges, while the victim's relatives burst out in tears and several of them collapsed. The family of the accused was removed from court. Anbatawi has denied the allegations against him, which were based in part on a confession he made to police immediately following his arrest on April 19, 2004. At the time, he also and reenacted the events which led up to Shaichat's abduction and murder. After the sentence was handed down on Monday, Anbatawi's attorney Rami Masalha said "We did not expect such a heavy punishment. We intend to appeal the gravity of the punishment and the conviction itself to the Supreme Court." Masalha rejected reporters' suggestions that the confession proved Anbatawi's guilt. "If we were to look through the archives, we would also find other confessions of cases that didn't amount to anything," he said, adding, "I don't believe he is the killer." Anbatawi's sister said before the sentencing "I feel sorry for the soldier's murder, but my brother did not do it. My brother is innocent and it would be a crime to convict him." Oleg Shaichat's family refused to talk to reporters. Soldiers from Shaichat's northern district unit were also present in the courtroom, as were pupils of the Upper Nazareth high school where Shaichat went to school. His former teacher called this "a day of great sadness, and a sense of relief that it is all over." Second suspect killed in gunfight According to the language of the indictment, Anbatawi and a friend, Mohammed Hatib, hatched their plan to abduct and kill an IDF soldier and to steal his weapon during a meeting between the two on July 21, 2003. Both men traveled in a car belonging to Anbatawi's brother to a store, where they purchased a cable used as a bicycle lock. They planned to use the cable to strangle the soldier they were to abduct. In April, 2004, Hatib was killed in a gunfight at Beit Rimon Junction, after he fired at a Border Police patrol. Hatib's accomplice in the shooting, Ala'a Moussa, a 21-year-old resident of the Western Galilee town of Kfar Manda, suffered gunshot wounds and was arrested. Investigators stumbled upon the most significant lead in the case when it was discovered that the rifles found in Hatib and Moussa's possession belonged to Shaichat. Related articles: Israeli Arab member of Galilee terror group convicted of killing soldier Police remove monument honoring killer of IDF soldier Bookmark to del.icio.us   Slamming Obama McCain uses speech to AIPAC to criticize Obama for willingness to meet U.S. foes. Soldier kidnapping Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier.   1.   So what do IDF scum like Dichter get? Promotions... ? 15:26  |  POP 17/12/07   2.   1 Yes Pop - A promotion and he deserves it 15:51  |  S Judah 17/12/07   3.   "Galilee militant?" More like terrorist. When will Haaretz learn? 16:10  |  common sense 17/12/07   4.   Common Sense: Terrorists attack soldiers? 16:28  |  POP 17/12/07   5.   Be grateful, POP 16:31  |  A Jew 17/12/07   6.   A threat.. From A Jew 16:37  |  POP 17/12/07   7.   A Typical DEATH THREAT from `A Jew` #5 16:58  |  POP 17/12/07   8.   I suggest that nobody respond to POP 17:17  |  redmike 17/12/07   9.   5th column 17:28  |  Steve Cohen 17/12/07   10.   POP is antisemite would you like to stop him 18:40  |  Daniel 17/12/07   11.   pop ( petit foutriquet ) 20:37  |  a jew 17/12/07   12.   Muderers belong in prison....I feel sorry 20:43  |  Lynn 17/12/07   13.   pop... 20:44  |  Igor D. 17/12/07   14.   Inbreed Terrorists 20:50  |  Efox 17/12/07   15.   re: POP 20:52  |  Efox 17/12/07   16.   POP goes the weisel! 20:53  |  SLAVO 17/12/07   17.   NO SUCH THING AS AN ARAB TRAITOR! 20:54  |  SLAVO 17/12/07   18.   boy, is he ugly! 20:57  |  nathalie gruesome 17/12/07   19.   Peres lurking in the shadows and ready with amnesty 21:20  |  Absolute Sweden 17/12/07   20.   Galilee militant? another proof ,leftis`m is a mental disease 23:05  |  chaim 17/12/07   21.   #6 POP goes the weasel - A Jew does NOT 23:50  |  * BEN JABO 17/12/07   22.   POP goes the Weasel - Behold a miracle 23:53  |  * BEN JABO 17/12/07   23.   WHY does he not demand Arab justice for kidnap-murder? 23:59  |  PETER SM 17/12/07   24.   "Galilee militant" should be reserved for people like Trumpeldor 02:04  |  Jake 18/12/07   25.   HaAretz - He`s a convicted TERRORIST 05:07  |  * BEN JABO 18/12/07   26.   they shouldn`t have put him in prision for life,they should have 16:09  |  terrornator 02/06/08

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