The Kiryat Shmona Magistrate’s Court accepted the prosecution’s position and sentenced Abraham Abukarat, a resident of Safed, to 22 months in prison on Tuesday for aggravated animal cruelty, animal abuse, obstruction of justice and violating a lawful order. The case was handled by Adv. Ragad Shadfana and Adv. Hadass Cohen from the Northern District Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the verdict, Abukarat lured a dog from its owner’s home in Safed to his own house, where he inflicted severe physical harm and caused the animal intense suffering. The dog was left with significant injuries and experienced pain, fear and severe trauma. When police arrived after a report that the dog had disappeared, Abukarat threw the dog out of his window in an attempt to remove it from the scene and derail the investigation.
The court said this was a second conviction under the Animal Welfare Law. In 2022, Abukarat was convicted of similar offenses and was initially banned from keeping animals for 10 years, later reduced to seven years on appeal. Despite that order and the ongoing legal proceedings, he committed similar offenses again. His earlier conviction was also reviewed on appeal, and both the District Court and the Supreme Court rejected his arguments.
In sentencing, the prosecution stressed that the acts were deliberate and cruel, carried out after he had prepared food in advance to entice the dog, and that he showed no responsibility, no rehabilitation prospects and no understanding of the danger he posed. Judge Deputy President Donia Nassar said the conduct caused the dog severe suffering, pain and fear, and that the harm could have been worse if police had not arrived. She also cited Justice Mishael Cheshin on the broader moral danger of cruelty to animals. The court imposed 18 months in prison plus a four-month suspended sentence to be served consecutively, along with additional suspended sentences and a 5,000-shekel fine for the animal welfare fund.
