(Andrew Friedman/TPS) The Judea Military Court sentenced Mohammed al-Amira to two life sentences and NIS 250,000 ($68,200) for the murder of Rabbi Michael (Mickey) Mark near the town of Otniel, south of Hebron, last July. Mark’s wife and two small children were also wounded in the attack.

Al-Amira, who shot at the Mark family car while passing them on the road, was convicted of murder and attempted murder. In addition, he was convicted of several additional counts of attempted murder.

“Eight long, difficult months have passed since our father was murdered by terrorists,” the family said in a statement. The obscene murderer and the sentence he received has not been part of our lives. We are busy strengthening our family, supporting one another and our mother, who has not fully recovered from the wounds she sustained in the attack, and rebuilding our family’s day-to-day routine. Not long ago, we unveiled our father’s headstone… Some people murder, others build. Our father taught us to continue building strength and building, story after story.

“The State of Israel must not release terrorists in any deal whatsoever. It has been proven that terrorists, even ones without blood on their hands, return to the circle of terrorism and eventually become killers with blood on their hands.

“We ask our leaders not to bow to domestic or international pressure to release terrorists and we call on individuals who supported the [Shalit] deal to go to the graves of their victims and ask forgiveness,” the family said.