M.P.'s praise of attack investigated

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 10

M.P.'s praise of attack investigated

NZP-Reuter Tel Aviv

The Attorney-General, of Israel has instructed the police to investigate if comments by Rabbi Meir Kahane, lauding a rocket attack on an Arab bus in Jerusalem that killed one Arab, violated a law barring sraise5 raise of terrorist acts, a ustice Ministry spokesman said yesterday. As a result, Rabbi Kahane could be stripped of his Parliamentary immunity and face prosecution.

The bus attackers, suspected Jewish extremists who used an anti-tank missile in Jerusalem last Sunday, left a note saying that they were taking revenge for a recent double murder of Israeli students in the occupied west bank. Rabbi Kahane and his Kach Movement lauded the attackers as “those brave Jews.” They added: “If the Arabs of Israel want to ride safely on buses, Kach suggests they ride buses on a one-way trip out of

Israel.” Parliament’s house committee voted this week to hold an open debate on revoking immunity for Rabbi Kahane, who was elected last July on a platform calling for the expulsion of Arabs from Israeliruled land. Israel’s anti-terrorism law forbids the expression of sympathy for or the encouragment of acts of violence. The maximum punishment is three years imprisonment.

“Regarding Kach, it’s clear-cut,” said a Justice Ministry spokesman, Yitzhak Feinberg. “They issued a statement praising those who committed a crime. The Attorney-General will decide if an indictment can be made.”

Mr Feinberg said that Rabbi Kahane was protected from prosecution by his parliamentary immunity, but if sufficient cause were shown the Ministry would ask Parliament to revoke the immunity.