In what amounted to little more than a show for television news crews, at least according to Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, PLO officials today convicted four Arabs of various levels of involvement in the murder of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi. The “trial” took place in a makeshift court within Yasser Arafat’s Ramallah compound, where a member of Arafat’s security force with no previous legal experience acted as judge. A PLO policeman who had never served as a lawyer in a legitimate court of law was the defense attorney.
The terrorist who actually pulled the trigger and murdered Ze’evi, Hamdi Quran, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and his lookout Basel Al-Asmar received 12 years. The driver of the getaway car, Majdi Rimawi, received an eight-year term, while Ahead Gholmy was given a one-year sentence for \"having knowledge\" of the plot.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon immediately announced that Israel does not recognize the trial, saying that Israel stands on its demand that the fugitives be turned over to Israel to stand trial. \"Strange,\" Sharon said. \"Why would they want them to stand trial twice? After all, we will try them in any event.\" The Prime Minister also demanded that the PLO turn over Fuad Shubaki, the mastermind behind the Karin-A arms smuggling ship. Sharon said that Shubaki was also responsible for financing deadly suicide bombings attacks against Israelis.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that it was a \"great show,\" and Palmach Ze\'evi, the son of the slain minister, had this to say after hearing the news: \"The so-called trial being held in Arafat\'s headquarters is an embarrassment to Israel and her sovereignty... It is yet another proof of the foolishness and disgrace of the Oslo Accords. I am certain the Prime Minister will continue to demand that the PLO hand over the murderers to stand trial in Israel.” In addition to Israeli denouncements of the “trial,” a Palestinian human rights activist also condemned it as unfair.
The PLO claims that it is not required to turn over terror suspects to Israel, saying that the Oslo Accords state that the PLO may try those accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis in their own courts. Israel, however, states that it has the right to try suspects accused of criminal activity perpetrated on Israeli soil. Ze\'evi was murdered in the Hyatt Hotel, in Jerusalem. Since the signing of the accords in 1994, the PLO has yet to turn over to Israel a wanted terrorist suspect.
The terrorist who actually pulled the trigger and murdered Ze’evi, Hamdi Quran, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and his lookout Basel Al-Asmar received 12 years. The driver of the getaway car, Majdi Rimawi, received an eight-year term, while Ahead Gholmy was given a one-year sentence for \"having knowledge\" of the plot.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon immediately announced that Israel does not recognize the trial, saying that Israel stands on its demand that the fugitives be turned over to Israel to stand trial. \"Strange,\" Sharon said. \"Why would they want them to stand trial twice? After all, we will try them in any event.\" The Prime Minister also demanded that the PLO turn over Fuad Shubaki, the mastermind behind the Karin-A arms smuggling ship. Sharon said that Shubaki was also responsible for financing deadly suicide bombings attacks against Israelis.
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that it was a \"great show,\" and Palmach Ze\'evi, the son of the slain minister, had this to say after hearing the news: \"The so-called trial being held in Arafat\'s headquarters is an embarrassment to Israel and her sovereignty... It is yet another proof of the foolishness and disgrace of the Oslo Accords. I am certain the Prime Minister will continue to demand that the PLO hand over the murderers to stand trial in Israel.” In addition to Israeli denouncements of the “trial,” a Palestinian human rights activist also condemned it as unfair.
The PLO claims that it is not required to turn over terror suspects to Israel, saying that the Oslo Accords state that the PLO may try those accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis in their own courts. Israel, however, states that it has the right to try suspects accused of criminal activity perpetrated on Israeli soil. Ze\'evi was murdered in the Hyatt Hotel, in Jerusalem. Since the signing of the accords in 1994, the PLO has yet to turn over to Israel a wanted terrorist suspect.