"When the wicked perish, there is song"

Only faith in Divine Providence and in the great mercy of the Master of all Worlds can bring balm to the wounds of the heart. However, the wisest of men [King Solomon] already said, "When the wicked perish, there is song" (Proverbs 11:10), and we are happy to announce that the wicked one, Abed al-Aziz—may the name of the wicked rot—who assisted in the murder of Nechemia Lavi and Aharon Bennett z"l (of blessed memory), has been sent to 35 years in prison.

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Abed al-Aziz Mer'i, a resident of Abu Dis, to 35 years in prison. He assisted a Palestinian terrorist over a year ago in murdering Aharon Bennett z"l and Nechemia Lavi z"l via stabbing on Hagai Street in East Jerusalem.

As part of the plea bargain with him, Mer'i—may the name of the wicked rot—admitted that he assisted the terrorist Mohannad Halabi—may the name of the wicked rot—to enter Jerusalem from Judea and Samaria, urged him to carry out the attack, and even purchased the knife for him. The court approved the plea bargain and, in addition to the prison sentence, ordered the convict to pay approximately 300,000 shekels to each of the families of the two murder victims. The murderer of Bennett and Lavi z"l was shot to death by Border Police officers. "So may all Your enemies perish, O Hashem."