JERUSALEM (JTA) — Seven Israeli Arabs were acquitted of murder charges in the 2005 killing of a Jewish terrorist, but some were convicted on lesser charges.

Four residents of the Arab-Israeli community of Shfaram were found guilty of attempted manslaughter in the death of Israel Defense Forces soldier Eden Natan-Zada. Zada opened fire in a public bus in Shfaram in northern Israel, killing four Israeli Arabs including the bus driver and injuring 22.  He was disarmed by bus passengers and then beaten to death by some of them.

It is believed that Zada was protesting the Gaza disengagement which was going on at the time of the shooting.

Two other defendants were convicted of aggravated assault, and one was acquitted during Monday’s trial in Haifa District Court.

Five others reached a plea bargain with the court, admitting to interfering with and attacking police officers in exchange for a sentence of community service, according to Haaretz.

Hundreds of Shfaram residents and their supporters protested in Haifa prior to the trial. The city of Shfaram closed down due to a general strike over the trial.