JERUSALEM--Yaacov Teitel, the American immigrant to Israel accused of a number of terrorist attacks, including the attempted murder of Messianic teenager Ami Ortiz, said in a Jerusalem court today that God is proud of his actions, and he remained defiant in the face of all of the criminal charges against him:  among them, first degree murder on two counts, two counts of attempted murder in addition to the Ortiz bombing, holding and manufacturing weapons and inciting violence.

Teitel is charged with murdering two Arabs in 1997 and planting a bomb last year in the home of Israel Prize Laureate Professor Zev Sternhell, wounding him.  Ortiz was nearly killed in March, 2008, when he opened a bomb disguised as a Purim holiday package.

Teitel smiled as he entered the courtroom, and said, "It was my pleasure and honor to serve my God.  God is proud of what I have done, I have no regrets."

Yossi Graiver, an attorney for families of Teitel's victims filed a civil suit Thursday, seeking more than $1 million in damages for his clients.  Graiver issued a statement, which said that "since Teitel has admitted to the murder of Samir Balbisi and has also admitted to and reenacted the attempted murder of (Ami) Ortiz with a booby-trapped Purim basket, he will have to bear the economic implications of his actions toward the victims whose lives have been paralyzed and destroyed."

Sources:  The Jerusalem Post, ABC News