Justice Minister Avraham Sharir has given his recommendations regarding amnesty requests by seven Shin Bet intelligence officials to President Chaim Herzog for his consideration. Herzog already has pardoned four Shin Bet officials, including agency head Avraham Shalom, in connection with the April 1984 beating deaths of two Palestinian bus-hijackers while in Israeli custody. Herzog said he’ll decide on the pardons within “the next few days.”
One of the pardoned officials was promoted to a senior Shin Bet position, Premier Shimon Peres confirmed Sunday. Peres told Cabinet ministers that he made the promotion prior to publication of the beatings and allegations of a cover-up. Several ministers noted that it was improper to promote an official who in his request for pardon admitted committing crimes.
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