The death sentences of two Arabs held in Tel Aviv prison were commuted today by President Chaim Weizmann to life imprisonment. Three other prisoners under sentence of death are on a hunger strike in protest against delays in the final determination of their fate. All three are Arabs.
Imposition of the death sentences was delayed pending a final decision by the government on the abolition of the death penalty in Israel. Legislation to abolish the death penalty is now under consideration by a Cabinet committee. The Cabinet recently instructed the committee to speed up preparation of legislation necessary to abolish capital punishment.
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