Rabbi Meir Kahane, leader of the Jewish Defense League and three other defendants pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of attempting to smuggle arms out of Israel. Their trial will resume at a date to be announced when the prosecution presents its witnesses.
On trial with Rabbi Kahane are two other JDL members and Amichai Paglin, former operations chief of the underground Irgun Zvai. Leumi who is accused of manufacturing the iron crate in which the arms were to have been sent abroad, The crate, containing submachine guns, pistols and hand grenades was intercepted at Lod Airport as it was about to be placed aboard a U.S.-bound plane. The crate was labled “bisquit machinery.”
The official charge against the defendants is “attempting to export arms illegally.” The arms are believed to have been intended to fight Arab terrorists abroad.
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