Court Sentences Israeli Arab to Life for Attack in Haifa

LOD, Israel —  A military court on Monday gave Israel’s harshest punishment, life in prison, to an Israeli Arab who pleaded guilty to throwing a hand grenade in central Haifa last year that injured 25 people.

Ali Abdullah Amaria, 24, a Bedouin from Ibtan village near Haifa, also pleaded guilty to throwing gasoline bombs at buses and planning to kill former army Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan, now a legislator.

Four Arabs arrested with Amaria, all suspected members of the Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization, have yet to face trial.

The president of the three-judge court, Col. Aaron Alpern, said Amaria’s crimes were particularly serious because the Arab was an Israeli citizen who carried out attacks on civilians and showed no remorse.