Israeli who took part in deadly mob attack on black man mistaken for terrorist 'granted plea deal'

An Israeli convicted over the lynching of a man mistaken for a terrorist may serve months rather than years in prison after reportedly striking a plea deal.

Haftom Zarhum was attacked by a mob at Beersheba bus station in October 2015 after people blamed him for an attack that had just taken place.

Earlier, a Bedouin-Israeli gunman had arrived at the station and killed a soldier standing guard before seizing his rifle and firing into a crowd, injuring nearly a dozen people before he was himself killed.

The 29-year-old Zarhum, who was black and from Eritrea, was shot several times by the station’s security team and then set upon by a crowd of passers-by.

He later died in hospital, reportedly of the gunshot wounds. It is not clear why he was blamed for the attack, but Israeli media reported at the time it was because of his skin colour.

Evyatar Damari admitted to the crime of abusing a helpless person after being caught on camera kicking Zarhum, according to Haaretz. He reportedly told the court he regretted his actions.

The paper reported that the charge had been reduced from aggravated assault and carried a maximum prison sentence of seven years, as opposed to 20.

Damari’s lawyer requested he serve a month of community service, Haaretz reported. The defendant is said to be suffering from mental health problems and is due to be sentenced in December.

Prosecutors are expected to ask for prison time in the order of months, rather than years.

Earlier this year another member of the mob, David Muial, was sentenced to 100 days of community service over the killing.

Two other men are still being tried.