Premier Menachem Begin personally assured Chief of Staff Gen. Raphael Eitan that he supports him fully in the angry controversy over Eitan’s reduction of the sentence of a former paratroop officer convicted of the torture-murder of four Lebanese civilians. Begin telephoned the Chief of Staff today to say that he had full confidence in him and considered the action he took in the case of former Lt. Daniel Pinto within his competence as chief of the armed forces.
Meanwhile, with public opinion overwhelmingly favoring Eitan, his supporters turned wrathfully on Sheli MK Uri Avneri who has been demanding that the Chief of Staff resign. Avneri was accused of violating security by leaking details of Pinto’s offense and trial to foreign correspondents. Avneri denies this but the State Attorney General is being urged by many to institute legal proceedings against the MK.
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