The home of a Palestinian terrorist who murdered an Israeli security guard will not be razed due to the fact that the terrorist was mentally ill, the military recently ruled.
On March 18, Abed al-Rahman Bani Fadel, 28, from the West Bank village of Aqraba, near Nablus, attacked Adiel Coleman, a married father of four from the Samaria community of Kokhav Hashahar, who was working as a security guard in Jerusalem's Old City.
Fadel was able to stab Coleman multiple times before he was shot and killed by police at the scene.
Coleman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Following the attack, military officials informed Fadel's family that their home would be demolished.
Using the services of the left-wing Center for the Defense of the Individual, the family appealed the decision before IDF authorities, claiming that Fadel was mentally ill and could not be held responsible for his actions.
The family further presented medical records supporting its claims.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit on Wednesday issued a statement on the matter said that "after an in-depth review of the claims the family made and following consultations with the relevant authorities, it was found that in light of the claims made regarding the terrorist's mental state and the documents presented, the IDF cannot order the demolition of the terrorist's home.
"The IDF offers its deepest condolences to the family of the late Adiel Coleman and has briefed them on the decision and its reasoning. Israeli security forces will continue to spare no effort to eradicate terrorism in Judea and Samaria, to thwart terrorist attacks and to deter terrorist elements," the military's statement said.
Yael Coleman, the victim's mother, criticized the decision, saying, "A despicable murderer who received a job permit in Israel is not a mentally ill man. He had enough strength to murder my son in cold blood."
Shai Glick, head of Betzalmo, which describes itself as a "Jewish human rights organization," has been working with the family to promote the demolition of Fadel's home and said they would appeal the military's decision.
Attorney Haim Bleicher from the right-wing Honenu legal aid organization, who represents the family, issued a statement saying, "Razing the homes of terrorists who murdered Jews is a necessary step to generate deterrence and it is inconceivable that they [the IDF] refrain from doing so for external reasons."
He noted that his organization would appeal to the IDF's Central Command.
"We also protest the fact that the victim's family was excluded from this bizarre decision-making process. No one briefed them on it and the learned of it from the media," he said.
