Israeli prosecutors are concerned a proposed legislative amendment to protect a fervently Orthodox, or haredi, man from facing fraud charges in the United States could prompt a diplomatic confrontation with U.S. officials. The amendment proposed by haredi lawmakers says no one over the age of 70 can be extradited. It was initiated to prevent the extradition of Haim Berger, a 75-year-old haredi man who fled to Israel from the United States in 1997 to avoid facing charges for alleged fraud involving some $20 million.
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