2005 Shiloh settlement shooting
The 2005 Shiloh settlement shooting occurred in an industrial zone in the Israeli settlement of Shiloh on 17 August 2005. Asher Weisgan, an Israeli settler, perpetrated the attack, killing four Palestinian laborers and wounding another before surrendering. His victims—Mohammed Mansour, Khalil Alulwil, and brothers Bassam and Usama Tuwafhse—personally knew Weisgan. Motivated by Israel’s intent to withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Palestinian terrorism, Weisgan coordinated the shooting to stir Palestinian unrest and, hence, hinder disengagement efforts.
The following year, Weisgan was tried for four counts of murder and sentenced to four life sentences. He committed suicide by hanging in prison on 22 December 2006. A number of Israeli right-wing movements supported Weisgan’s motivations, though the shooting failed to significantly impact the disengagement process.
Motive and background[edit]
The perpetrator, Asher Weisgan, was an Israeli settler who lived in the settlement, Shvut Rachel, in the West Bank. In 2003, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed the withdrawal of its military presence in the Gaza Strip and dismantling of Israeli settlements within the territory. Weisgan later said in his interrogation and testimony in the Jerusalem District Court that he expressed anger towards the Israeli government’s decision.[1] He contemplated measures months beforehand to divert Israeli military to the West Bank and derail the disengagement process.[1] A radio statement by Avi Dichter—that “only a lone Jewish terrorist could stop the disengagement”—influenced Weisgan’s decision to commit the killings: “Dichter talked about a lone terrorist who wasn't in the Shin Bet's sights, who wasn't a right-winger known to them. At that moment, I thought that this profile kind of fits me [Weisgan]”.[1]
Weisgan was not devoutly religious, nor was he politically active. A resident of the Shvut Rachel settlement for eight years, he spent his childhood in the Katamonim and Gilo neighborhoods of Jerusalem.[1] Quiet and introverted, Weisgan did not openly display any disdain for Arabs and did not divolge his plans to family or friends. He worked at an aluminum factory in the industrial zone in Shiloh; he targeted five labourers from the factory who resided in five different areas to divert more Israeli forces.[1]
Incident[edit]
On 17 August 2005–two days before the evacuation of Gush Katif—the workday ended; around 4:45 pm Weisgan drove four Palestinian labourers from the factory. The passengers—Mohammed Mansour, Khalil Alulwil, and brothers Bassam and Usama Tuwafhse—“had an excellent relationship, mutual respect” with Weisgan, he recalled.[1] As they approached a military checkpoint at the entrance to Shiloh, Weisgan stopped the vehicle and approached the security booth; the guard assumed he was collecting the Palestinians’ identification cards.[2] Weisgan, instead, took a loaded M-16 rifle, firing five to six bullets at each passenger. Three victims were killed instantly, another later died at Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem.[2][3]
Weisgan approached the factory entrance on foot, wounding a Palestinian worker. He considered committing suicide immediately after the shooting, but surrendered to a Shiloh security officer.[1]
Aftermath[edit]
The incident was condemned as Jewish terrorism.[4] Weisgan expressed no remorse—calling the killings a “necessary defense” against Palestinian terrorism toward Israeli settlers—during testimonies; he urged for the assassination of Ariel Sharon to follow in the wake of the shooting.[1][5] His attorney, Naftali Werzberger, recommended an insanity plea, but Weisgan insisted he coordinated the shooting with “a clear mind”.[1] A district psychiatrist determined Weisgan was fit to stand trial.[1]
Convictions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank are rare.[6] However, on 11 September 2006, Weisgan was convicted of four counts of murder, attempted murder, and sabotage; he was sentenced to serve four consecutive life sentences. Each deceased victim’s family was compensated with $250,000 and another $100,000 for the wounded.[3] At Ayalon prison, on 22 December Weisgan committed suicide by hanging in his cell.[2] Right-wing movements—the Yesha Council of Rabbis, Women in Green, and the Hanenu Foundation among others—supported Weisgan’s motivations by publishing a joint obituary notice. The disengagement process, however, was uninterrupted by the shooting.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Shragai, Nadav (28 December 2006). "He Felt Like Moses". Haaretz. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ben-Zur, Ramaan (22 December 2006). "Jewish Terrorist Takes Own Life in Jail". Ynet. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lefkovits, Etgar (11 September 2006). "Jewish Terrorist Convicted of Murder". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ "Chronology: July 16–October 15, 2006". The Middle East Journal. 61 (1). 2007.
- ↑ Asser, Martin (18 August 2005). "Settler Shooting Shatters Community". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ "Life Sentences for W Bank Killer". BBC News. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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