MK Benny Elon dismisses out of hand today's testimony by Yigal Amir that he heard the latter speak of the need to assassinate Yitzchak Rabin. "What can I say other than that it never happened," Elon told Arutz-7 today. "I have no idea what is happening in the twisted mind of the murderer Yigal Amir. Seven years ago he assassinated an Israeli Prime Minister, and today he is trying to commit character assassination against me."
Amir, now serving a life sentence for killing Rabin, said today at the trial of GSS agent-provocateur Avishai Raviv that Elon once heard him talk about his desire to kill Rabin. The convicted assassin said it occurred during an anti-Oslo Sabbath get-together in Beit Haggai several months before the murder. Amir further said that Elon responded, but did not specify how. Raviv's lawyer told Army Radio later today that Amir implied that Elon heard only an "indirect reference" to Amir's perceived need to kill Rabin.
Yigal Amir testified today in defense of Raviv, who is being charged with "not preventing" Rabin's assassination. HaTzofeh newspaper reported last year that Avishai Raviv told the police that he heard Amir speak clearly on five occasions of his plans to assassinate the Prime Minister. Amir said today, however, that Raviv did not know of his specific plans to murder Rabin. "He only heard me talk of the general need for Rabin to be killed, but he knew nothing about my plans to do it," Amir said. Amir referred to the murder as a "targeted liquidation," and said, "I did not murder, I only shot."
It will be recalled that an acquaintance of Amir, Margalit Har-Shefi, served several months in prison on charges similar to those filed against Avishai Raviv.
Amir, now serving a life sentence for killing Rabin, said today at the trial of GSS agent-provocateur Avishai Raviv that Elon once heard him talk about his desire to kill Rabin. The convicted assassin said it occurred during an anti-Oslo Sabbath get-together in Beit Haggai several months before the murder. Amir further said that Elon responded, but did not specify how. Raviv's lawyer told Army Radio later today that Amir implied that Elon heard only an "indirect reference" to Amir's perceived need to kill Rabin.
Yigal Amir testified today in defense of Raviv, who is being charged with "not preventing" Rabin's assassination. HaTzofeh newspaper reported last year that Avishai Raviv told the police that he heard Amir speak clearly on five occasions of his plans to assassinate the Prime Minister. Amir said today, however, that Raviv did not know of his specific plans to murder Rabin. "He only heard me talk of the general need for Rabin to be killed, but he knew nothing about my plans to do it," Amir said. Amir referred to the murder as a "targeted liquidation," and said, "I did not murder, I only shot."
It will be recalled that an acquaintance of Amir, Margalit Har-Shefi, served several months in prison on charges similar to those filed against Avishai Raviv.