Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- an Israeli court has approved the transfer of Amiram Ben-Uliel, an Israeli settler convicted of the brutal murder of a Palestinian family in 2015 by burning them alive, from solitary confinement. The move was justified by Israeli authorities on “humanitarian grounds.”
Amiram Ben-Uliel was convicted for the horrific arson attack in the Palestinian village of Duma, which claimed the lives of Saad and Riham Dawabsheh and their 18-month-old son, Ali. On July 31, 2015, Ben-Uliel threw a firebomb into the Dawabsheh family’s home, resulting in their deaths and leaving another child severely burnt. This incident drew widespread condemnation and highlighted the increasing violence perpetrated by settlers against native Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Since his conviction for murder, Ben-Uliel has been serving his sentence in a high-security wing under strict surveillance in an isolated area of the prison. He refuses to interact with women, including female prison staff. Following the recent decision, Ben-Uliel will be able to meet with other prisoners and have regular contact with the wing’s staff.
The decision to transfer Ben-Uliel came after discussions between the Shin Bet (Shabak) and prominent rabbis in the Religious Zionist community, who advocated on his behalf. These included Rabbi Yaakov Medan and Rabbi Dov Lior, the latter being the rabbi of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has pushed in recent years for easing Ben-Uliel’s prison conditions.
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Over the years, there has been concern within the Shin Bet that easing his imprisonment conditions could lead to connections between Ben-Uliel and far-right activists. However, in the past two years, he has been allowed to stay in touch with his family and some rabbis, including Rabbi Lior, as a form of psychological support. Aside from psychological support, the Israeli terrorist Ben-Uliel has also received books, personal items, “sacred utensils,” and holiday clothing. Members of the Israeli Knesset also defended him, including Limor Son Har-Melech, who called him a “holy righteous man”.
In recent years, the Shin Bet has tried to add a cellmate for him, but this was not possible due to his behavior. Last year, Ben-Uliel was allowed to visit the Torah wing of the prison during holidays and return to his isolated cell at the end of the holiday.
Earlier this week, the newspaper Haaretz reported, citing unnamed security establishment sources, that Prison Authority Commissioner Kobi Jacobi, who is close to Minister Ben-Gvir, and the minister’s chief of staff Hanamel Dorfman, visited Ben-Uliel in his cell on two separate occasions. Previously, a senior Prison Authority officer stated that Ben-Uliel is the prisoner the Prison Authority is most concerned with among all inmates, and that requests related to him from Minister Ben-Gvir’s office “never stop.” Ben-Gvir also promoted Jacobi, allowing him to deal directly with officers regarding Ben-Uliel’s case.
Source: qudsnen
