The Supreme Court has set May 24 as the date to begin hearing an appeal by former Israel Defense Force Lt.Azzat Nafsu who is serving an 18-year prison sentence imposed by a military court in 1980 for alleged treason. Supreme Court President Meir Shamgar is expected shortly to name the panel of justices to hear the appeal. Shamgar agreed to the hearing after the Knesset amended the law to allow soldiers to carry their appeals beyond the military justice system.
Nafsu, who comes from the Circassian village of Kfar Kamma, was stripped of his rank. He claims he was convicted on false evidence. But a military court of appeals upheld his conviction. His appeal to the Supreme Court for reversal will be opposed by the chief military prosecutor, the first time in Israel’s history that a military prosecutor will be allowed to plead before the high court.
CASE ATTRACTS NATIONAL ATTENTION
The case has attracted national attention because of indications that evidence used against Nafsu may have been fabricated by Shin Bet, the internal security service, The Shin Bet leadership has urged a Presidential pardon and release for the convicted soldier, apparently to close the case before it reaches the Supreme Court.
Attorney General Yosef Harish originally supported the Shin Bet proposal but has since changed his mind. The political leadership is said to believe that the case must be heard by the civilian legal system, regardless of possible repercussions against the Shin Bet.
The top secret agency was involved in a scandal last year over the murder of two captured Arab bus hijackers by security agents in 1984. Three senior Shin Bet officials were given Presidential pardons before any charges were filed against them. One of them admitted the agency routinely fabricated evidence to protect itself.
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