A panel of seven justices headed by Supreme Court president Aharon Barak ruled unanimously that Skolnik constitutes a threat to society and should therefore remain behind bars.
The court limited its reasons for rejecting the parole board decision to Skolnik’s ongoing threat to public safety. The petitioners, Knesset member Zahava Gal-On and the State Attorney’s Office, had also charged that seven years in jail was too short a term to serve for Skolnik’s crime.
The justices ruled that the board’s decision had not been reasonable, because it had not taken into account factors indicating that Skolnik still poses a threat to society.
According to Barak, the nature of the crime and Skolnik’s comments afterward that the suspected terrorist, Moussa Abu Sabha, deserved to be killed, indicated he is still dangerous.