An American Jew serving a 25-year-to-life prison sentence for murder arrived in Israel on Tuesday to begin a rehabilitation program at a kibbutz.
William Shapira, 62, was paroled by the governor of Florida after Herut Lapid, head of the Kibbutz movement’s prisoner rehabilitation program, interceded on his behalf. Lapid acted at the request of several prominent Israelis interested in the case.
Under the agreement with the Florida authorities, he will be responsible for Shapira for the 12 remaining years of his sentence. Shapira will reside at a kibbutz and will share in the routine duties expected of all members.
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