Several policemen were injured yesterday when Druze supporters of Sheikh Jabba Muadi demonstrated violently outside the Jerusalem district court building when the three sons of the Sheikh were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Bedouin Sheikh Knesset member Abu Rabiya in January 1981. Muadi headed a small Arab party associated with the Labor Party.
The demonstrators outside the courtroom and Muadi supporters inside shouted that Israeli justice was now proved dead by the court’s verdict. But the family of the slain man, who was shot to death while sitting inside his car outside the Jerusalem Holyland Hotel, said they were pleased by this evidence of fair justice in Israel.
Tension outside the court grew as the bench spent two-and-a-half hours reading the findings. The family of the accused said they would lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court.
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