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Israel won't seek extradition of jailed Hamas leader
April 3, 1997
Web posted at: 10:02 a.m. EST (1502 GMT)JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Citing security concerns, Israel on Thursday announced it will no longer seek the extradition of Mousa Abu Marzook, an Islamic militant leader jailed in New York.
Contacts were under way with Jordan to arrange for Abu Marzook to be sent there instead, Israel radio said.
Abu Marzook was arrested in July 1995 at John F. Kennedy Airport when immigration inspectors noticed he was on a list of suspected terrorists. A leader for the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas, Abu Marzook, 46, is suspected of financing and planning terrorist attacks against Israelis.
In a statement released Thursday, Israel said, "The government of Israel has informed the United States of its request to suspend at this stage its request for the extradition of Mousa Abu Marzook."
"The decision was taken on the basis of the overall considerations concerning security and prevention of terrorist attacks."
Relations between Israelis and Palestinians have deteriorated sharply since Israel began building a Jewish settlement in disputed East Jerusalem, triggering days of stone-throwing violence. Islamic militants have renewed suicide bombings, and Israeli security officials have warned of more possible terrorist attacks.
Israel faced deadline
Thursday's announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with senior Cabinet ministers and security officials. Netanyahu had been reluctant to renew the extradition request, apparently concerned that a high-profile terrorist trial could pave the way for more attacks.
The decision came just before a weekend deadline for Israel to make clear its intentions regarding Abu Marzook.
Immediately after Abu Marzook's 1995 arrest, the previous Israeli government requested his extradition to Israel. Israel had sought to put Abu Marzook on trial on suspicion he backed terrorist attacks against Israelis.
A U.S. federal court judge ruled in May 1996 that there was reason to believe Abu Marzook was involved in 10 attacks from 1990 to 1994 in which 47 people were killed and 148 injured. Abu Marzook dropped his appeal against extradition in January of this year.
A resident of Virginia since the early 1980s, Abu Marzook has repeatedly denied his involvement in the attacks, saying he is the political leader of Hamas with no ties or control over the militant wing of the organization.
Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors noted at a Tuesday hearing that Abu Marzook has an immigration matter pending against him -- meaning he could remain jailed in the U.S. despite Israel's decision not to seek extradition.
Related stories:
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- U.N. leader surveys interest in possible special session - April 2, 1997
- Netanyahu, Arafat trade barbs as Mideast tensions mount - April 2, 1997
- 2 dead, 7 wounded in Gaza explosions - April 1, 1997
- Israel defiant over new Arab gesture of isolation - March 31, 1997
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- Model League of Arab States
- State of Israel - Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles
- Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ArabNet
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