DATE=7/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235553
TITLE=ISRAEL / IRAN (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN ISRAELI COURT HAS SENTENCED AN ISRAELI BUSINESSMAN TO
16 YEARS IN JAIL FOR SELLING CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND RELATED
TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM ON
THE CASE, WHICH HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY CONTROVERSY AND SCANDAL.
TEXT: THE THREE-JUDGE TEL AVIV DISTRICT COURT SENTENCED NACHUM
MANBAR (THURSDAY) FOR WHAT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU DESCRIBED AS A "TERRIBLE" CRIME FOR WHICH MANBAR
DESERVED TO "PAY A HEAVY PRICE." THAT COMMENT GOT THE PRIME
MINISTER IN SOME TROUBLE.
THE COURT CONVICTED MANBAR LAST MONTH OF AIDING AN ENEMY MAKING
WAR ON ISRAEL AND PROVIDING INFORMATION INTENDED TO DAMAGE
ISRAEL'S SECURITY. THE PROSECUTION SAYS HE SOLD IRAN
18-MILLION-DOLLARS WORTH OF MUSTARD GAS AND NERVE GAS, AND
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FACTORY TO BUILD MISSILE
WARHEADS WHICH COULD CARRY THEM. PROSECUTOR DVORAH CHEN CALLED
IT THE MOST SERIOUS CRIME IN ISRAELI HISTORY, AND ASKED FOR A
SENTENCE OF LIFE IN PRISON.
MANBAR DENIES THE CHARGES.
IN THE END, THE COURT CHOSE 16 YEARS, SAYING IT COULD NOT
IGNORE THE FACT THAT WHAT MANBAR DID WAS NOT SO UNUSUAL AT THE
TIME HE DID IT, IN THE EARLY 1990'S. STILL, THEY DESCRIBE MANBAR
AS BEING "UNCONTROLLABLY GREEDY."
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU WELCOMED THE SENTENCE, TELLING THE
REUTER NEWS AGENCY THAT MANBAR PROVIDED THE MATERIAL OF DEATH TO
AN IRANIAN GOVERNMENT THAT IS COMMITTED TO ISRAEL'S DESTRUCTION.
AT THE SENTENCING HEARING, THE JUDGES CRITICIZED THE PRIME
MINISTER AND OTHER OFFICIALS FOR MAKING EARLIER PUBLIC STATEMENTS
ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF MANBAR'S CRIME AND WHAT KIND OF SENTENCE
HE DESERVED. THE JUDGES SAID EVEN IF SUCH COMMENTS WERE NOT
MADE WITH THE INTENTION OF INFLUENCING THE COURT, THEY SHOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN MADE. THE PANEL ALSO SAID IT WAS NOT INFLUENCED
BY SUCH STATEMENTS, OR BY THE SCANDAL THAT HAS RAGED AROUND THE
CASE IN RECENT DAYS.
THIS WEEK, IN NEWS REPORTS AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY POLITICIANS
AND ATTORNEYS INVOLVED IN THE CASE, THE SENIOR JUDGE AND THE
PRIME MINISTER'S SPOKESMAN WERE BOTH ACCUSED OF HAVING A SEXUAL
AFFAIR WITH ONE OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. AND PRIME MINISTER
NETANYAHU WAS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO IMPROPERLY INFLUENCE THE
JUDGES TO IMPOSE A STIFF SENTENCE.
ALL THE ALLEGATIONS WERE VEHEMENTLY DENIED BY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
WERE ACCUSED.
/// OPT /// IN ADDITION, THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS THAT FORMER
PRIME MINISTERS SHIMON PERES AND THE LATE YITZHAK RABIN TRIED TO
SUPPRESS THE MANBAR INVESTIGATION. THOSE CHARGES WERE ALSO
DENIED, AND THE PROSECUTOR SAID IT WAS MR. RABIN WHO ORDERED THE
INITIAL INVESTIGATION BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE AT THE
TIME TO BRING MANBAR TO COURT. /// END OPT ///
MANBAR'S FAMILY SAYS HE IS BEING MADE A SCAPEGOAT AND SAYS THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO PROSECUTE OTHER ISRAELIS WHO DID BUSINESS
WITH IRAN IN THE EARLY 90'S. HIS ATTORNEYS SAY THEY WILL APPEAL
BOTH THE CONVICTION AND THE SENTENCE.
/// REST OPT ///
THURSDAY'S SENTENCING CAME AS ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARE URGING THE
VISITING HEAD OF RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE TO STOP
INVOLVEMENT BY RUSSIAN BUSINESSES IN IRAN'S MISSILE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
16-Jul-98 8:11 AM EDT (1211 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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