Editing Omar al-Abed

{{quote|Words cannot describe the extent of the atrocity committed by the defendant|Sentencing judgement<ref name=win/>}}
'''Omar al-Abed''' is a Palestinian terrorist who murdered three members of an Israeli family in July 2017. The teenager was angered by controversies surrounding management of a site that is holy to both Jews and Muslims following an earlier terror attack there. He is serving life despite one judge opining the remorseless killer should be executed.

==Background==
Abed lived in Kobar.<ref name=toi>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/military-court-hands-down-4-life-sentences-to-halamish-terrorist/ 4 life sentences for terrorist who killed Salomon family of Halamish] - Times of Israel</ref> He was 19 at the time of the attack.<ref name=arab>[http://www.arabnews.com/node/1246966/middle-east Israel sentences Palestinian to life for triple murder] - Arab News</ref> He was upset by tensions at the al-Asqa mosque, also revered by Jews as the Temple of the Mount. On July 14, 2017 three Israeli Arabs murdered two policemen after exiting the compound, with Israeli authorities sparking an angry backlash after installing metal detectors in response.<ref name=arab/> Abed put up a Facebook post shortly before his attack in which he complained of Israeli actions at the holy site in particular and, more generally, against Palestinians.<ref name=arab/> He said Palestinians should defend the mosque.<ref name=toi/>

The victims were the Saloman family who were celebrating a birth on the day of the murders.<ref name=win/> They lived in Halamish,<ref name=jp>[http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-terrorist-gets-4-life-sentences-for-Solomon-family-murders-542730 Palestinian terrorist gets 4 life sentences for Salomon family murders] - Jerusalem Post</ref> also known as Neve Tzuf.<ref name=win>[https://worldisraelnews.com/terrorist-murdered-3-family-members-sent-prison-life/ Palestinian who murdered 3 Israeli family members gets 4 life sentences] - World Israel News</ref>

==Attack==
On July 21, 2017 Abed conducted his attack.<ref name=toi/> He had hoped to use explosives or a gun but could not acquire these, so instead opted for a knife assault.<ref name=jp/> He gained access to Halamish bypassing four fences, one of which he cut, a second he crawled under, and two he climbed with the aid of nearby trees.<ref name=jp/> He selected the Saloman household after noticing it lit up and hearing laughter within.<ref name=toi/>

Yosef Salomon, 70, was fatally stabbed, as were his children Chaya Salomon, 46, and Elad Salomon, 36; his wife Tova, 68, was stabbed but survived.<ref name=win/> Elad put up a fierce fight, at one stage wrestling the knife from Abed before being overpowered and stabbed to death.<ref name=jp/> Tova managed to escape upstairs shouting "terrorist!" where she hid with other members of the family.<ref name=toi/> They had opened the door when he knocked as they were expecting guests to celebrate the birth of a new grandson.<ref name=toi/> He asked "what about Al-Aqsa? and immediately began stabbing.<ref name=toi/>

The attack was halted when a neighbour, an off-duty soldier, heard the commotion and shot Abed; the killer survived and was subsequently detained before he could go upstairs to attack the other members of the family.<ref name=jp/>

==Legal process==
Abed smirked and smiled throughout his trial.<ref name=toi/> He was found guilty of all three murders and of attempting to murder the other seven people in the house.<ref name=arab/> The Military Advocate General did not seek the death penalty and instead proposed four life sentences, but the Judea Military Court still considered a possible death penalty but rejected this 2-1 as against military policy.<ref name=toi/> Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman had sought the death penalty,<ref name=win/> with dissenting judge Dov Gilboa agreeing.<ref name=toi/> The court jailed Abed for life.<ref name=arab/>

==Aftermath==
The case sparked considerable debate on capital punishment within Israel.<ref name=jp/> Had Abed received the death penalty he would only be the second person in Israeli history to do so, the other being prominent Nazi [[Adolf Eichmann]] who was sentenced to death in 1962.<ref name=toi/>

The soldier who stopped Abed in his tracks received a bravery award and the army thanked him for his restraint in not shooting Abed more than necessary to stop the attack.<ref name=jp/> The army also used concrete to partially destroy the killer's family home in August 2017; the Salomans subsequently applied to the High Court for the home's complete destruction.<ref name=toi/> Also in August Abed's father, mother, an uncle and two brothers received short jail sentences for knowing of the impending attack but doing nothing to prevent it.<ref name=arab/> 

The Palestinian Authority pays Abed a lifelong salary equivalent to $3,120 per month as a reward for the murders.<ref name=win/>

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:List]]
[[Category:Male]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Modern Villains]]
[[Category:Living Villains]]
[[Category:Imprisoned Villains]]
[[Category:Young villains]]
[[Category:Murderer]]
[[Category:Destroyer of Innocence]]
[[Category:Fanatics]]
[[Category:Seeker Of Vengeance]]
[[Category:Xenophobes]]