Jerusalem Court Sentences Terrorist to 22.5 Years for Attempted Murder of Elderly Woman

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Nabil Shaabani, 62, to 22 and a half years in prison for attempting to murder a 74-year-old woman in Jerusalem. Shaabani, who had previously worked in the victim's home doing cleaning and repairs, was convicted of an attempted nationalist-motivated murder and theft. According to the indictment, Shaabani strangled the woman twice, stabbed her in the neck and chest, and stole jewelry and cash from her home. He initially planned a stabbing attack near the Jerusalem light rail station but chose to carry out the attack in the victim's home while completing a repair job.

Shaabani strangled the woman for several minutes, left believing she was dead, then returned to retrieve a forgotten walking stick. Upon seeing she was still alive, he strangled and stabbed her again. The victim sustained serious injuries. The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office sought a sentence of 22 to 26 years and maximum compensation, highlighting Shaabani's exploitation of the victim's trust, his cruelty, repeated attempts to kill her, and the nationalist motive.

The judges noted that Shaabani's actions harmed not only the victim but also the fragile coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem. They emphasized the severity of repeated lethal attacks targeting Jews in recent years, including incidents in October 2023, warranting harsh deterrent sentencing. Although Shaabani cooperated with investigators and admitted guilt immediately after arrest, he showed no remorse before sentencing. In addition to the prison term, he received six months suspended sentence and was ordered to pay the victim 150,000 shekels in compensation. The case was prosecuted by Sami Khourani from the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office.