Two Islamic terrorists sitting in an Israeli prison for murdering an American Christian woman, Kristine Luken, and attempting to murder dual Israeli/UK citizen Kay Wilson in 2010, have now been charged by the US Department of Justice. If they are ever released for any reason, the FBI will be waiting outside the prison to take them off to face American justice for their heinous crimes.
This is the new Department of Justice under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, appointed by President Trump.
The Justice Department and FBI have also done the same thing to the Ahlam Tamimi, the Arab terrorist who drove a suicide bomber to a family-friendly Sbarro pizza restaurant in Jerusalem in August 2001 where he murdered 15 and maimed many others. One of the victims of that attack was Malki Roth, a dual US Israeli citizen. Ahlam was released from Israeli prison as part of the exchange of more than a thousand terrorists for one Israeli soldier (Gilad Shalit). She now resides, comfortably, in Jordan. Only this week, after numerous reports, did Twitter shut down her account. Despite having an extradition treaty with Jordan, the Kingdom is refusing to extradite her.
In the case of Ayad Fatafta and Kifah Ghanimat, both serving very long sentences in an Israeli prison, the indictment won’t result in any immediate moves. But these two know there is no hope of a deal, somewhere down the line, that would see them free. Had this same step been taken at any time since the conviction on Ahlam Tammy over a decade ago, her release in the 2011 Shalit deal would have seen her headed straight to the USA.
It can only be surmised that these changes have come about because of a significant change of direction at the very top of the Justice Department: Attorney General Jeff Session and President Trump who appointed him seem to be singling that Islamic terrorists, anywhere in the world, yes, even Palestinian ones, are not safe from prosecution if they murder American citizens abroad.
Two Terrorists Charged in Connection With the 2010 Murder of a U.S. National in Israel
A criminal complaint was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Ayad Fatafta and Kifah Ghanimat, both approximately 39 years of age and from areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, in connection with the Dec. 18, 2010, murder of Kristine Luken, a U.S. citizen, in Israel.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew Vale of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The complaint charges Fatafta and Ghanimat with murder of a U.S. National Outside the U.S., in violation of Title 18 United States Code sections 2332(a)(1) and 2. Arrest warrants were also issued today for both defendants.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint and arrest warrants, Fatafta and Ghanimat stabbed to death Ms. Luken, a 44-year old U.S. national who was hiking near an archaeological site while visiting Israel. She died at the scene. Another individual who was with Ms. Luken, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Israel, was seriously wounded in the attack but survived. The affidavit states that in 2012, Fatafta and Ghanimat each were convicted in an Israeli court of murder and other offenses in connection with the abduction and stabbing of both women. Fatafta was sentenced to one life term of incarceration plus 20 years, while Ghanimat was sentenced to two life terms of incarceration plus 60 years, for this and another crime.
The charges in criminal complaints are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum penalty for a person convicted of murdering a U.S. national outside the U.S. is a lifetime term of incarceration or death. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.