Police here have arrested another seven suspects in the arson attacks Monday on three Christian institutions. Among the suspects are two women, one of them a Hebrew University student. Police are now holding 19 suspects, after arresting 20 and releasing one on bail after he cooperated with his investigators.
One of the suspects is Yoel Lerner, an American-born Jewish Defense League activist, who was third in the JDL Knesset list. Lerner was found guilty last year as one of the organizers of an arson attack on a missionary institution on the Mount of Olives. He was then sentenced conditionally to three years in jail if he was involved again in arson. Police believe now that most of the participants in the recent arson cases have been arrested. The group consists of three sub-groups–members of the JDL, yeshiva students and Hebrew University students.
Meanwhile, a threat to kill Mayor Teddy Kollek if he implemented a promise to provide compensation to three Christian centers damaged by arsonists was telephoned today to Itim. the Israeli news agency. Police are investigating the anonymous telephone call, made by a man who said he was a spokesman for the Organization for National Revolution.” The police said they had never heard of such an organization.
Itim officials said the caller denied that the JDL was responsible for the fires. Itim officials reported the caller said his group opposed the JDL because they considered its founder. Rabbi Meir Kahane, a “publicity seeker.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
