Sup. Court increases penalty for weapons smugglers
By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Supreme Court on Monday increased the sentences of two Arab Israelis convicted of smuggling weapons from Egypt into Israeli territory.
The two were originally sentenced to 6 years in prison, but the court raised their detention time to 10 years after considering an appeal from the state on Monday.
The state appealed the original sentence, arguing for a more severe sentence that should serve as a deterrent to black market weapons traders.
Roughly one year ago the two were arrested for smuggling rifles, rockets and ammunition into Israel for a payment of $100.
"The increase in weapons smuggling into Israel and the Palestinian Authority through the Sinai Peninsula, and the immediate and actual concern that these arms will lead to spilt blood and murder in Israel, justify a strict penalty," the judges' verdict explained.