Two members of the Jewish Defense League were arrested by FBI agents today after spending an hour inside the Egyptian United Nations Mission here. The JDL claimed that the two, identified as Russell Kelner and Dov. Hikind, were invited inside, held against their will and beaten. They were charged by the FBI, however, with assaulting Egyptian personnel. An FBI spokesman said that three members of the Mission were injured Mahmoud Ahmed, the Mission Press Counselor, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the two had “forced their way” into the building and staged a sit-down for one hour until they were removed by FBI agents.
Ambassador Clarence Ferguson of the United States UN delegation arrived at the scene in response to a telephone call from the Egyptian Ambassador, Ahmed Abdel Meguid. The two JDL members were part of a group demonstrating in front of the Mission with Israeli flags and signs claiming that Sinal belonged to Israel “since the time of Moses.” The JDL said it planned to demonstrate outside the Mission again tonight, Kelner, from Philadelphia, was formerly a Spanish language teacher. He works at the JDL office here. Hikind is a student at Brooklyn College. They were charged under recently enacted Federal legislation aimed at tightening security for diplomatic personnel. If convicted they face a penalty of up to three years in jail, $5000 fine or both.
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.
