ISRAEL: ISRAELI COURT EXTENDS THE DETENTION OF TWO LEBANESE GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED AND HELD AS BARGAINING CHIPS FOR MISSING ISRAELI SOLDIERS

Record ID: 400874

  • Title: ISRAEL: ISRAELI COURT EXTENDS THE DETENTION OF TWO LEBANESE GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED AND HELD AS BARGAINING CHIPS FOR MISSING ISRAELI SOLDIERS
  • Date: 12th July 2000
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JULY 12, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. MV LEBANESE PRISONERS MUSTAPHA DIRANI AND SHEIKH ABDEL KARIM OBEID IN COURT. 0.03 2. SV SHEIKH OBEID IN COURT. 0.07 3. SV DIRANI IN COURT. 0.12 4. SLV DIRANI AND OBEID SITTING NEAR ISRAELI POLICE. 0.18 5. WIDE PEOPLE IN COURT. (2 SHOTS) 0.23 6. SLV JUDGE ENTERING CO
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA50YEM1E6VB0MOVI01YXE82JI3
  • Story Text: An Israeli court has extended the detention of two
    Lebanese guerrillas kidnapped and held as bargaining chips for
    missing Israeli soldiers, saying they were a threat to
    national security.



    The Tel Aviv District Court accepted the state's
    argument that Mustapha Dirani, former security chief of the
    Amal Movement, and Hizbollah cleric Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid
    would pose a danger if released.

    The court ruled on Wednesday (July 12) that they would be
    held for another three months, after which it would deliver a
    final ruling.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak had requested the
    extension in his capacity as Defence Minister.

    Israel abducted Dirani in 1994 and Obeid in 1989 and held
    them in the hope that they could be used to locate Ron Arad,
    an Israeli pilot missing since he was shot down over Lebanon
    in 1986.

    Eliad Shraja, the lawyer representing Ron Arad's family,
    spoke in support of the court ruling.

    "We do agree with the court that these two creatures are
    dangerous to the security of Israel, and do glad that they are
    staying in jail till Ron will be back," he said.

    Meanwhile Zvi Rish, representing Dirani and Obeid, said
    that they were going to appeal to the Supreme court.

    "Anyway we still think that holding them is not because
    they are endangering the national security, it is only because
    they are serving as bargaining chips or hostages for missing
    Ron Arad, anyway they don't have anything to do with Ron Arad.

    Ron Arad is in Iran not with Hizbullah," he said.

    The Israeli Supreme Court had ruled in April that Israel
    could only hold prisoners without trial if they were deemed a
    threat. That ruling led to the release of 13 other Lebanese.

    Israel has argued since the high court decision that
    Dirani and Obeid could be detained under the ruling. Israel's
    cabinet approved legislation in June that would imprison them
    indefinitely.

    DB/JRC

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