Author Arnon Itiel Calls to Reexamine Amiram Ben-Uliel’s Conviction in Duma Case

Author and publicist Arnon Itiel has publicly challenged the conviction of Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was sentenced to three life terms for the 2015 arson attack that killed the Dawabsheh family in the West Bank village of Duma. In an interview with Channel 7, Itiel argued that Ben-Uliel’s conviction was based on a confession extracted under torture, a practice that would invalidate any conviction in a Western legal system. He urged a renewed public debate on the case, emphasizing that Ben-Uliel’s imprisonment is a stain on the conscience of religious Jews in Israel.

Itiel highlighted that confessions and reenactments alone, especially those obtained under duress, are insufficient grounds for conviction without additional evidence. He cited other cases such as Roman Zadorov and Amos Baranes where confessions were later disproven. Itiel criticized the forensic evidence presented by the Shin Bet and prosecution, describing it as legally inadequate and unreliable. He also questioned the authenticity of the reenactment footage, suggesting it could have been rehearsed multiple times without proper documentation.

Responding to critics who support the conviction as a basis for countering settler violence, Itiel challenged them to consider living in a country where someone is imprisoned based on a torture-induced confession. He noted that Israel is unique among Western countries in this regard. Itiel also lamented the lack of protests or public outcry over Ben-Uliel’s imprisonment, attributing it to secular dominance in Israeli society and the reluctance of the religious public to challenge the state’s verdict.

Despite the controversy, Itiel expressed cautious optimism about Shin Bet chief David Zini’s integrity and called on him to find the true perpetrator, pointing to ongoing clan conflicts in Duma. He criticized right-wing politicians for avoiding mention of Ben-Uliel’s name, fearing political damage, and warned that Israel’s redemption depends on uncovering the full truth behind the case.

Summary: Author Arnon Itiel demands a reexamination of Amiram Ben-Uliel’s conviction for the Duma arson attack, arguing it was based on a torture-induced confession and insufficient evidence, and calls for uncovering the real culprit amid ongoing clan violence in the village.

Points: - Arnon Itiel claims Ben-Uliel’s conviction relies on a confession extracted under torture. - Itiel argues Western legal systems would reject such evidence for conviction. - Forensic evidence and reenactment footage in the case are legally insufficient, says Itiel. - Israel is unique among Western countries in imprisoning someone based on a torture confession. - Itiel calls on Shin Bet chief David Zini to find the true Duma arson attacker. - Lack of public protests reflects secular dominance and religious acquiescence to state verdicts.

Topic: security

Entities: {"people":["Arnon Itiel","Amiram Ben-Uliel","David Zini","Roman Zadorov","Amos Baranes"],"organizations":["Shin Bet","Channel 7"],"places":["Duma","West Bank","Israel"]}