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Stiff Jail Terms for 3 Terrorists

February 13, 1980
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Three Arab terrorists, held in custody for more than three years, were each sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by a military tribunal yesterday for attempting to shoot down an Israeli airliner over Nairobi, Kenya in 1976. Their trial, which was closed to the public, lasted five weeks.

The names and countries of origin of the terrorists have still not been disclosed. They were captured in Nairobi while preparing to fire a shoulder missile at an incoming EI AI plane with more than 100 passengers aboard. Seized with them were two German terrorists, Brigitte Schulte and Thomas Rueter. All were brought to Israel. The Germans were tried earlier and each was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, a military tribunal in Nablus has charged six Arabs with plotting to murder the Israeli Military Governor of the West Bank town of Jenin and his aides late last year. The officials attended ceremonies in Kabatiyeh village to mark the opening of a new water pipeline. According to the charges, the Arabs planned to slip sleeping pills into the coffee served to the Israelis and to kill them while they were under sedation. The plot was uncovered and the alleged perpetrators were taken into custody.

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