Justice Ministry Asks Release of American Woman Jailed for Aiding Terrorists

The Justice Ministry today recommended the early release from prison of Terty. Fleener, 24, an American woman serving a five-year sentence on charges of spying for a Palestinian terrorist organization. It also recommended the release of Ludvina Jannsen, 26, of Holland, serving a six-year term on similar charges. A Ministry spokesman said Fleener could be freed by the end of June and Jannsen in September, both for “good conduct.”

Ms. Fleener, who admitted to the charges before she was sentenced 15 months ago, has been the subject of representations by the U.S. government on the highest levels. On May 14, Secretary of State Cyrus Vance asked Justice Minister Shmuel Tamir to take action for her release. In Washington yesterday, State Department spokesman Thomas Reston said the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has been informed that tamir would recommend to President Yitzhak Navon that Fleener’s sentence be reduced to 21/2 years. He quoted an Israeli Justice Ministry spokesman as saying that it could be further reduced by one-third for good behavior if the prison warden and a special appeals committee concurred. In that case, the former Kuwait Airlines stewardess who comes from Texas would be eligible for release on June 25, Reston said.)

Meanwhile, two Arab women suspected of terrorist activity were detained following the arrest Sunday of another woman, Atai Ashraf, 22, of Ramallah. Ashral was seized after she planted a bomb in a trash can at the Jerusalem central bus terminal. Her interrogation led to the arrest of the others. A military spokesman said the three women belonged to a gang that carried out a series of terrorist acts which claimed at least four lives and injured 53 persons.