Life terms for Palestinian who killed Israeli policeman

A Palestinian accused of killing a senior Israeli policeman and wounding his wife and nine-year-old child was sentenced on Monday to two life terms in prison, the military announced.

Ziad Awad, who appeared before a military court in the West Bank, was found guilty of intentionally causing the death of Baruch Mizrahi by shooting at his car on April 14, 2014 near Hebron in the occupied territory.

The policeman's wife was wounded, and their child and another minor were also hit, a statement from the military said.

Awad was also sentenced to pay compensation of 275,000 shekels ($77,000, 65,500 euros).

He was also found guilty of involvement in seven other attacks targeting Israeli civilians, some of whom were injured, the army added without further details.

The court also sentenced Awad's son Izz al-Din to 20 years' jail and to pay 325,000 shekels for helping his father plan and carry out the attack.

The city of Hebron and its environs, home to 200,000 Palestinians and some 700 Jewish settlers, has seen frequent violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and soldiers.

Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, and its radical ally Islamic Jihad both hailed the attack on the policeman as "heroic".

Source: AFP