Three Israeli citizens were convicted Thursday of manslaughter by the Tel Aviv District Court because they had driven a suicide bomber on his way to the site of the attack in Netanya in July 2005. This is the first time that persons who aided a terrorist, but were not involved in the planning or execution of the attack, are convicted of manslaughter.
The suicide bombing took place in July 2005 at a crosswalk near the Sharon Mall in Netanya. Five persons were killed and 30 were injured five of them seriously.
Two of those convicted - Seif Azam from Taibeh and Kfir Levy from Ramat Gan - smuggled the Palestinians from the territories into Israel. On the day of the attack, Asaf Zahran, the handler of the suicide bomber, called Azam and asked him to drive the man into Israel. The two paid NIS 1000 for the ride and crossed the Green Line in Levy's car.
The prosecutor claimed that Azam and Levy suspected that the man they were bringing into Israel was a terrorist, but did not turn down the business opportunity.
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