An Israeli military appeal court ordered a new trial last night for Mohammed Hijazi, the Arab E1 Fatah infiltrator who was sentenced to death earlier this month by a lower military court for shooting at an Israeli patrol. Hijazi was captured in January this year while he was on a raid into Israel. He was tried before a three-man military court.
The new trial was ordered in response to Hijaz’s lawyer’s claim that he was not given sufficient time to secure a foreign lawyer. The defense counsel, Avigdor Michali, was selected by the Tel Aviv Bar Association at the request of the military authorities. The appeal court gave Hijazi three months to secure a Jordanian lawyer or one from any Arab or other country to defend him. If Hijazi fails to get an Arab or other foreign lawyer within the three months, an Israeli lawyer will again be appointed for him.
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