Two Editors of Leftist Paper Charged with Belonging to Terrorist Group

Two editors of the shut-down leftist newspaper Derekh Hanitzotz were formally charged in Jerusalem district court Monday with membership in a terrorist organization.

Ronni Ben-Efrat, 35, and Michal Schwartz, both mothers of two children, have been in custody since they were arrested last month, along with Yaacov Ben-Efrat, who is Ronni’s husband, and Hadas Lahav.

All were members of the editorial staff of the editorial staff of the newspaper, which was ordered closed by the security authorities three months ago, on grounds it was funded by terrorists.

The two women also were charged with having contact with a foreign agent and membership in an illegal organization. The accusations were based on testimony by state witnesses, including two senior police officers and six members of the General Security Services, known as the Shin Bet.

If the charges are proven, the accused would face prison sentences of form five to 15 years. The state asked that the suspects be held pending the end of legal proceedings. That request will be renewed when the court reconvenes on June 12. The suspects will remain in custody until then.

A fifth suspect, Assaf Adiv, who is listed as publisher of Derekh Hanitzotz, was arrested last week. He will appear in court Tuesday to have his detention extended.

According to the charge sheet, contact with the terrorists began between the end of 1983 and the beginning of 1984.

At that time, Ronni Ben-Efrat and her now estranged husband, Yaacov, met in London with Salah Rafat, a prominent member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Marxist-oriented, pro-Soviet terrorist group headed by Nayef Hawatmeh.

Yaacov, 38, though mentioned in the charge sheet, has not yet been formally charged. He is Argentine-born and was chief editor of Derekh Hanitzotz. The others accused are Israeli-born.