Ultra-Orthodox Jew convicted over Jerusalem Gay Pride stabbings

An Israeli court on Tuesday convicted an ultra-Orthodox man of murder and six counts of attempted murder over stabbings at a Jerusalem Gay Pride parade last year that killed a 16-year-old girl.

The July 2015 attack by Yishai Shlissel led to harsh criticism of Israeli police. Shlissel had been released from prison only three weeks before after having served a 10-year sentence for a similar attack.

He had also posted a letter on the Internet speaking of the "abomination" of a Gay Pride parade being held in the Holy City and the need to stop it, even at the cost of one's life.

Many questioned how Shlissel was allowed anywhere near the parade. The attack occurred in Jerusalem city centre as hundreds were participating in the march.

Six senior Israeli policemen were later removed from their posts over the attack.

When he was charged in court in August, Shlissel lashed out at homosexuality and mentioned the name of the 16-year-old girl who died.

"The pride parade must be stopped in order for the soul of Shira Banki to ascend to heaven," Shlissel, who wears a long beard, reportedly told the court in Jerusalem.

"If you care for her well-being... you must stop cursing against God. The parade marchers are bringing great harm upon the nation of Israel."

Shlissel was jailed for a similar attack on the 2005 Gay Pride march that left three people injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau said at the time of last July's attack that it had been a "despicable hate crime".

“In Israel everyone, including the gay community, has the right to live in peace, and we will defend that right. I welcome the Israeli religious leadership’s condemnation of this terrible crime, and I call on all those in positions of leadership to denounce this contemptible act," he said.

“In the State of Israel, the individual’s freedom of choice is one of the country’s basic values. We need to ensure that every man and woman in Israel can live in security any way they choose. That is how we acted in the past, and how we will continue to act."

A witness at Shlissel's trial told the court that he believed he would have been shot on the spot if he had not been a Haredi Orthodox Jew, comparing the police's response to the subsequent handling of knife attacks on Israelis by Palestinians which has seen scores of alleged assailants shot dead by Israeli security forces in a wave of violence since last October.

"A month and a half later, every person who unsheathes a knife, they shoot him even after he ceases to present a threat to civilians," the witness told the court.