Israeli court tells Govt to front up

Press, 3 July 1986, Page 10

Israeli court tells Govt to front up

NZPA-Reuter Tel Aviv Israel’s Supreme Court has given the Government two weeks to explain why the police should not investigate an alleged cover-up of the killing of two captured Arab guerrillas. The Court order, announced on State radio yesterday, was a preliminary victory for opponents of a Presidential pardon granted to the chief of the Shin Bet counter-terror-ism agency, Avraham Shalom, in return for his resignation last week. A Left-wing political party and jurists asked the Court to overturn the amnesty on the ground that a pardon can not be given before conviction. No charges have been laid against Mr Shalom. The petitions could complicate efforts by the Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, to defuse a

crisis in the nine-party Government over the alleged role of the Rightwing Foreign Minister, Mr Yitzhak Shamir, in the scandal. Mr Shalom’s written request for a pardon, published in the local press after the document was submitted to the Court, appeared to implicate Mr Shamir in the killings and cover-up. Mr Shalom said his actions had been undertaken with the approval of his superiors. Mr Shamir, Prime Minister when the guerrillas hijacked a bus to occupied Gaza in 1984, bore sole Ministerial responsibility for Shin Bet activities under Israeli law. Mr Shamir appeared on Tuesday to soften his opposition to an inquiry. He said he would agree to an investigation if the Government ordered one.

"If there will be some inquiry, I will say what I have to say and everybody will be surprised,” he said. “Most of our press and media will regret what they say now.” Political sources said Mr Peres was trying to work out a formula for an inquiry that would not issue recommendations for action against political leaders. A judicial inquiry board — which Mr Peres’ Labour Party has demanded that the Cabinet establish — can turn its findings over to the State prosecution. Mr Shamir, leader of the Right-wing Likud bloc, is due to exchange jobs with Mr Peres in October under a power-sharing pact signed after inconclusive elections in 1984. Mr Peres says he does not want to use the scandal to torpedo the agreement.