Gaza terrorist to serve 18 years for firing rockets

Man involved in firing rockets at Sderot; arrested in 2011, when he crossed into Israel from Gaza for reconnaissance.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Kassam rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip 300 (R) (photo credit: Nikola Solic / Reuters)
Kassam rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip 300 (R)
(photo credit: Nikola Solic / Reuters)
Gaza terrorist Khaled Silawi was sentenced by the Beersheba District Court on Monday to 18 years in prison for firing rockets at Israel.
Silawi, 21, was also convicted of spying on Israeli military positions on the Gaza border to plan future attacks. The convictions came as part of a plea bargain agreement in which he admitted to the charges.
According to the indictment, Silawi started his involvement in terrorism when he met a man who called himself “Abu Said,” commander of a unit of the Popular Resistance Committees, in 2007. He took part in a 15-day training course on weapons and other aspects of warfare along with 60 others. All wore masks during the training.
Later, Silawi was involved in firing rockets at Sderot, including moving the rocket launcher, setting a timer and leaving the area. He was arrested on April 30, 2011, when he crossed into Israel to perform reconnaissance of Israeli positions on the Gaza border.
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem District Attorney’s office on Monday filed an indictment in the Jerusalem District Court against Muhammed Bader and Muhammed Vaouda for allegedly planting an explosive device outside the home of a Jewish family in the Abu Tor neighborhood.
According to the indictment, Vaouda, 35, taught Bader, 26, how to prepare the device. Bader then planned the attack.
When Bader told Vaouda that he planned to attack Jews, Bader said: “God willing, it will all be okay.” He planted the device a few days later, said the indictment.
On Sunday, Raf’at Jafara, a third alleged conspirator, was indicted by the Jerusalem District Attorney in the Jerusalem District Court for allegedly serving as Bader’s lookout.
Although the device exploded and damaged parts of the house, none of the residents were harmed.
Bader and Vaouda were each charged with a range of crimes relating to the attack, while Vaouda was also charged for crimes relating to a separate incident.