Israeli soldier jailed for shooting British activist

A former Israeli soldier convicted in the fatal shooting of a British activist was sentenced today to eight years in prison by a military court.

Taysir Hayb was convicted in June of manslaughter for shooting pro-Palestinian activist Tom Hurndall in the head during an army operation in the Gaza Strip in April 2003.

Witnesses said Hurndall, 22, a member of the International Solidarity Movement, was helping Palestinian children avoid Israeli tanks.

Hurndall lay in a coma for nine months before dying in a London hospital.