Israeli authorities stepped up their investigation of arms smuggling today and indicated that they were determined to trace the source of a crate of arms and ammunition seized at Lod Airport a week ago as it was about to be shipped abroad for a private war against Arab terrorists.
This morning police detained Rabbi Meir Kahane, leader of the Jewish Defense League, and Yosef Schneider, JDL secretary in Jerusalem for questioning in the matter. Rabbi Kahane was taken to the Rishon LeZion police station where he will probably remain overnight. Israeli law permits police to hold a person in custody for 48 hours without filing charges.
A JDL source said that Schneider would be brought before a Tel Aviv magistrate tomorrow morning when police are expected to detail formal charges against him. Rabbi Kahane has reportedly refused to cooperate with police. He told newsmen last week that he didn’t think the police would arrest him because of his “great popularity” with Israelis. The JDL leader was reportedly about to leave the country when he was picked up early this morning. Both Rabbi Kahane and Schneider were questioned on the arms smuggling last week and were released on the understanding that they would be subject to further questioning.
WHERE DID JDL OBTAIN ARMS?
Meanwhile, two other figures in the arms smuggling case remained in detention. Avraham Hershkovits, 28, a JDL member arrested with the arms crate at Lod Airport, was remanded for five more days at the request of police.
Amitai Paglin, 50, a former Irgun leader who had been under house arrest last week and was released last Wednesday on $700 bail, was remanded for another four days. Paglin is believed to be the man who prepared the arms shipment. Police revealed today that he was arrested and fined in 1961 for illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
The JDL’s involvement in the arms smuggling was admitted by Schneider at a press conference shortly after Hershkovits was arrested at the airport. Rabbi Kahane subsequently acknowledged that the JDL was involved and offered to provide information if the government dropped all charges against JDL members and Paglin. The government refused.
Police interrogators are said to be determined to find out where the JDL obtained the arms, whether there are additional caches and to whom they were consigned. Police said last week that they had evidence that the arms came from an Army arsenal and that at least two soldiers were involved in their theft. But it appeared uncertain today whether the weapons were from the Army or from an armaments factory.
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