Israel’s Supreme Court has cleared the way for an American couple to be extradited to the United States, where they face charges in connection with a 1980 bombing that claimed the life of a secretary in California.
The court on Monday rejected an appeal by the couple, Robert and Rochelle Manning, and Justice Minister David Libai was expected to sign extradition papers "within a few days," said a spokesperson for his ministry.
The Mannings, who live in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, have been fighting the extradition request since 1990, with the support of activists in the Jewish settlers movement.
As the decision was read out in court, the couple and their daughter wept, while some of their supporters shouted in protest. Later, there were scuffles with news photographers outside the courtroom.
The Mannings’ case involves the killing, by parcel-bomb explosion, of secretary Patricia Wilkerson. The parcel was addressed to her employer’s wife, and the Mannings’ fingerprints were later found on parts of the wrapping.
The Mannings were active at that time in the Jewish Defense League. Soon afterward, they made aliyah to Israel.
In a 30-page judgment, Justice Eliahu Matza rejected the claim of "double jeopardy" made by Rochelle Manning, who had been arraigned in California before her case ended in a mistrial.
Matza also rejected a claim by the Mannings’ attorney that their safety might be jeopardized by Arab activists in the United States who believe they were involved in the 1985 killing of American Arab activist Alex Odeh in California.
The Israeli Supreme Court justice wrote that he would rely on the American justice authorities to protect the Mannings from any such external threat against them.
Matza noted, moreover, that the U.S. authorities "can be relied on" not to arraign the Mannings for any offense other than that for which the extradition request was made.
Matza, with Justices Aharon Barak and Shlomo Levin concurring, noted that the California authorities had pledged, as required under Israeli extradition law, that if the Mannings are convicted, they will not be eligible for the death sentence.
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