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Rabin Assassin’s Lawyers Protest Prison Conditions

January 3, 1996
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The lawyers representing Yigal Amir, the confessed assassin of Yitzhak Rabin, have appealed to have their client moved to another prison or to have his living conditions improved at the jail where he is now being held.

In the appeal brought before the Beersheba District Court, the lawyers said Amir had complained that he was cold and wanted a heater in his room.

This lawyers also asked for approval of Amir’s requests to receive religious books and to meet with the prison rabbi.

Court papers also reportedly included a complaint by Amir that the food he was being served in prison violated Jewish dietary laws.

Amir is being held in solitary confinement in a prison in southern Israel.

His trial for shooting Rabin at a Nov. 4 peace rally in Tel Aviv began last month with a reading of the charges against him.

After Amir’s lawyers requested time to review evidence, Judge Edmond Levy set Jan. 23 as the date for the resumption of the trial in Tel Aviv District Court.

No cameras will be allowed in the courtroom when the trial resumes, Israeli Radio reported.

Justice Minister David Libai was quoted as saying that even though he recognized the high level of interest in the trial, the absence of cameras in the courtroom was the only way to ensure that the proceedings would proceed normally.

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