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Sheli Setting Up ‘unarmed Militia’ for Protection Against Right-wingers

June 12, 1980
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The leftist Sheli faction announced today that it would set up an “unarmed militia” to protect its members and property against attacks by right wing extremists. The party’s Knesset members, Uri Avneri and Meir Payil, said the militia would carry no weapons but would seek to deter violence by “being present” when required.

The announcement was mode after Sheli’s party headquarters in Tel Aviv were vandalized and smeared with paint by unknown assailants. The police are investigating the incident which occurred Sunday night. Sheli Knesset members have reported receiving anonymous telephone calls threatening them, their families and property.

Marek Geffen, editor of the Mapam Party newspaper Al Hamishmar, reported a telephone threat last night from a group calling itself. “Terms Against Terror,” the same group that claimed credit for ransacking the Sheli offices. Geffen said the caller denounced the newspaper staff as “traitors” and warned that they would be “exterminated.”

The police are also investigating the complaint of a writer who had a Peace Now bumper sticker on his car. He found his windshield smeared with black point.

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