Four life sentences were pronounced by Israeli military courts in Gaza and Hebron today. The Gaza tribunal sentenced two Bedouins, Mouhammed Abu Souwarka, 31, and Hassan Ali Halafat, 22, to life terms for spying for Egypt. The pair was captured in Sinai while on a sabotage mission against Nahal Dikla, an Israeli settlement in the northern end of the peninsula. They were both reportedly trained in intelligence work and sabotage. They confessed to all the charges after initially denying them at their trial. Sentenced by the Hebron court were Ali Ashtrait, 31, and Mahmoud Danhash, 21, members of a terrorist gang that kidnapped and murdered seven Arab elders from Halhoul village in order to breed “respect” for their gang. They were captured in a clash with an Israeli patrol during which one Israeli officer was killed. Other members of the gang received shorter sentences. Five Arab terrorists, captured Jan. 1, on the shores of Akhziv, north of Nahariya in northern Israel, were also sentenced today to long prison terms. Four of the terrorists received sentences of 25 years, while one received a 15 year sentence. The five were found guilty of attempting to enter Israel by sea for the purpose of kidnapping an Israeli citizen who was to be exchanged in return for the release of captured Arab terrorists.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
