Palestinian sentenced to 35 years for alleged stabbing attack near Old City

An Israeli court has sentenced a paralyzed young Palestinian man to 35 years in prison for allegedly stabbing two police officers at the Herod's Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds two years ago.

On Wednesday, the three-judge panel of the so-called Jerusalem District Court stated that the sentence against 21-year-old Ayman Kurd was long, but said “it was necessary, given the severe and exceptional circumstances of his acts and their serious outcomes.”

Israeli officials say Kurd seriously wounded 38-year-old policewoman Tzipi Ya’akobian and moderately injured her 47-year-old male colleague on September 19, 2016.

 The young Palestinian man purportedly knifed the policeman in the neck from behind and then stabbed Ya’akobian a number of times in her head and neck. At that point, the policeman drew a weapon and shot at Kurd a number of times.

The attack left Ya’akobian permanently disabled after her spinal cord was severed.

Kurd was also left unable to walk due to the gunshot wounds he suffered, and is confined to a wheelchair.

The district court charged Kurd with two counts of attempted murder and one count of carrying a proscribed weapon.

It also ordered the young Palestinian to pay restitution to both police officers – 258,000 shekels ($71,930) to Ya’akobian and 70,000 shekels ($19,516) to the policeman.

The occupied territories have witnessed new tensions ever since US President Donald Trump on December 6, 2017 announced Washington's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital” and said the US would move its embassy to the city.

The dramatic decision triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories and elsewhere in the world.

The status of Jerusalem al-Quds is the thorniest issue in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Palestinians see East Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of their future state.

Moreover, nearly 175 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces ever since “The Great March of Return” protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30. A total of 19,139 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.

The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.

On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, condemning Israel for Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution, which had been put forward on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries, garnered a strong majority of 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstentions.

The resolution called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to make proposals within 60 days “on ways and means for ensuring the safety, protection, and well-being of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation,” including “recommendations regarding an international protection mechanism.”

It also called for “immediate steps towards ending the closure and the restrictions imposed by Israel on movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip.”

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