Charlie Biton, a Black Panther leader who has the third spot on the Rakah Knesset election list, may spend election day in jail. He was sentenced today to three months in prison for his part in a theft of food which was distributed to poor families in Jerusalem.
Biton admitted at the time that he participated in the food warehouse break-in together with other Black Panthers who expropriated IL 10,000 worth of food products. However, he argued that it was a political act to protest against the government’s policy of reducing food subsidies for poor families. The District Court judge who sentenced him today conceded that the act was not a regular burglary but said that the motives could not justify breaking the law.
The Rakah list is expected to win at least six seats in the coming elections. Thus, Biton may be the first Knesseter to celebrate victory behind bars.
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