The reduction in the sentences of the three principal defendants in the Kafr Kassem killings on the eve of the Sinai campaign were made on the recommendation of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, Shimon Peres, deputy Defense Minister said today.
Replying to a question raised in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, the deputy Minister said Mr. Ben-Gurion acted in his capacity as Defense Minister. The three men were Major Shmuel Malinki, Lt. Gavriel Deban and Cpl. Shalom Ofer. Mr. Peres said personal circumstances of each defendant motivated the recommendations.
They were among eight border police who were convicted after a lengthy trial on charges of killing 47 Arab men, women and children. Maj. Malinki had been commander of the border police battalion which opened fire on the Israel Arabs.
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