Israeli Prison Service Tightens Restraints on Yigal Amir, Rabin's Assassin

The Israeli Prison Service has implemented a new policy requiring Yigal Amir, who is serving a life sentence for assassinating Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, to be shackled by his legs throughout his incarceration. This decision adds to the existing security measures and supervision imposed on Amir during his time in prison.

Amir has been imprisoned since 1995 and has been classified as a security prisoner, held under special detention conditions. Initially, he was confined in a dedicated wing at Ayalon Prison under constant camera surveillance. Over the years, his solitary confinement was repeatedly extended due to concerns that his ideological beliefs posed a security risk. He has been transferred between various detention facilities and, since 2012, has been held in a closed section with other inmates following judicial rulings and petitions.

Throughout his imprisonment, Amir has filed multiple petitions challenging his detention conditions, seeking removal of cameras, improved phone access, and broader contact with the outside world. Some requests were partially granted, but security restrictions largely remained in place. In 2001, an amendment to the parole law explicitly barred early release recommendations for those convicted of politically or ideologically motivated assassination of a prime minister, effectively eliminating the possibility of sentence reduction for Amir.

The recent decision to add leg shackling complements the series of special security and monitoring measures applied to Amir over the years, reflecting ongoing concerns about his ideological stance and security risks.