President Moshe Katzav strongly criticized Justice Minister Meir Shetreet last night for not informing him in advance of his decision not to recommend a pardon for Margalit Har-Shefi. \"I hope this will be the last time I hear such a decision over the radio, instead of in person,\" the President said. He noted that he will announce his final decision on Margalit\'s parents\' request for a pardon for her within the coming days.

Margalit Har-Shefi began a nine-month sentence in March for failing to stop the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin. HaTzofeh correspondent Chani Luz notes that Katzav criticized the court ruling shortly after it was announced, saying, \"If a person knows of someone\'s intention to kill the Prime Minister and does nothing to stop it, that person deserves not nine months in jail, but rather 90 years.\" The President (fax: (972-2) 561-1033) is not bound to follow the Justice Minister\'s recommendation regarding pardons. Many legal experts strongly criticized the conviction and the sentence; information on the case can be found at \"www.harshefi.org.il/Eng/index.htm.\"

Shetreet said yesterday that three courts had found Margalit Har-Shefi guilty, and \"nothing material has changed to cause me to feel that a pardon or special mercy is indicated.\" Atty. Naftali Wurtzberger told Arutz-7 today that Shetreet is essentially saying that once the courts have ruled, the institution of Presidential pardon is unnecessary - \"but this is not true, because the President takes other consideration into account than do the courts when deciding on a pardon.\"