Danny Gonen. Murdered in June 2015.
Terror victim's mother testifies in accused murderer's trial
The mother of Danny Gonen, who was shot to death in mid-2015, told the alleged terrorist that he'll 'pay the heaviest price.' She left the courtroom after providing her testimony.
Dvora Gonen, mother of Israeli hiker Danny Gonen—who was murdered in June 2015
while traveling near the Israeli settlement of Dolev in the West Bank—testified Monday at the trial of Muhammed Abu Shaheen,
his accused killer. "If you think you have caused us to fall, you're wrong," she told Shaheen, "You will pay the heaviest price."
"I don't give out (candy and treats), but am a mother who taught her son to love all people," she added, referring to the custom among some Palestinians of handing out candy in celebration after terror attacks against Israelis.
Dvor Gonen. "I am here as the mother of Danny and my other children." (Photo: Ofer Meir)
Gonen was summoned to testify after requesting that she be given the opportunity to take an active role in the trial, since she felt that the voice of bereaved families wasn't being properly heard.
"Speaking of Danny is like speaking of the light while facing the darkness, total darkness and total evil. Danny is the light, the absolute good. I am here as the mother of Danny and my other children," she decalred while on the stand, "Danny's spirit cannot be taken away."
The attack took place on June 19, 2015, when Gonen and his friend Netanel Hadad were driving away from a spring near the Dolev settlement in the Binyamin area of the West Bank. A Palestinian man signaled for them to stop as if to ask for help before firing at them from point-blank range, fatally wounding Gonen.
