Terrorist tackled by Barkat in February sentenced to 18 years
A 17-year-old Palestinian was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court for a terrorist attack that was cut short when Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat tackled him.
The minor was videoed stabbing a 30-year-old haredi man at IDF Square in the capital on February 22, before being subdued by Barkat. The stabber was also ordered to pay NIS 100,000 in compensation to his victim as part of his sentence for attempted murder and several other crimes.
Spectators referred to Barkat as the “Super Mayor” following the incident.
The terrorist’s name is being kept under gag order since he is a minor.
The defendant was also indicted for separate counts of throwing Molotov cocktails, an improvised pipe bomb, firecrackers and stones at soldiers near the Kalandiya checkpoint, also known as the Atarot checkpoint, between Jerusalem and Ramallah, during the summer 2014 Gaza war.
According to the indictment, the Palestinian crossed through a weak point in the West Bank security barrier at some earlier point in February.
Next, he stole a knife from a store near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem and walked to IDF Square.
When he saw the haredi man, he attacked him, stabbing him in the chest to try to kill him.
Further, noted the indictment, the Palestinian stabbed the haredi man a second time, during which the haredi man called out “Stabbing” and started trying to escape into the street.
Barkat, his chief of staff, a security guard and his driver all approached the Palestinian.
After the security guard aimed his gun at the terrorist, he dropped his knife, following which Barkat and the security guard tackled him and assisted the wounded haredi man.
Barkat, 56, served in the Paratroop Brigade from 1977 to 1983, and is a major in the reserves.
Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.