Yigal Amir - Trial

Trial

The trial lasted from January 23 to March 27, 1996. Despite attempts to defend his actions on religious grounds, Amir was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment plus six additional years in prison for injuring the bodyguard. In the verdict, the three judges wrote:

Every murder is an abominable act, but the act before us is more abominable sevenfold, because not only has the accused not expressed regret or sorrow, but he also seeks to show that he is at peace with himself over the act that he perpetrated. He who so calmly cuts short another's life, only proves the depth of wretchedness to which values have fallen, and thus he does not merit any regard whatsoever, except pity, because he has lost his humanity.

Amir was defended by two court-appointed attorneys, Gabi Shachar and Shmuel Flishman, in addition to Yonatan Ray Goldberg, who represented him earlier in the trial. The judges ordered a mental examination by three district psychiatrists and a clinical psychiatrist who all agreed that Amir understood the meaning of his actions and was fit to stand trial.

Amir's deeds were condemned by Bar-Ilan University. A professor of Talmud at the university, Daniel Sperber, said that this act "in no way represents the university or the policy of the university."

Amir's claim that he was acting in accordance with Jewish law was rejected: "The attempt to grant religious authority to the murder...is completely inappropriate and amounts to cynical exploitation of Jewish law for goals that are alien to Judaism.

Amir was later sentenced to an additional five years, and after an appeal on behalf of the State, eight years, for conspiring to commit the assassination with his brother Hagai Amir and Dror Adani. All of the sentences were cumulative. In Israel, a sentence of life imprisonment is usually reduced to a period of 20–30 years by the president, with the possibility of further reduction for good behavior. However, President Moshe Katsav did not reduce the sentence, saying that there is "no forgiveness, no absolution and no pardon" for Yigal Amir. Present Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and former Premier Ehud Olmert have also said that Yigal Amir will never be released from prison.

On 19 December 2001, the Knesset by majority of 62 members approved the Yigal Amir Law, that a parole board will not be able to recommend pardon or shortening time in prison of a murderer of a prime minister. In the discussion that ensued, it was hoped the law would prevent the murder of another prime minister, whereas another party said that the law differentiates between "blood and blood".