Prosecutor: Israel may try Saadat

The State Prosecutor ruled on Thursday that the six terror suspects accused of plotting the assassination of minister Rehavam Zeevi may be tried in an Israeli court.

After consultations with Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz and senior officials from the Justice Ministry, chief prosecutor Eran Shendar said the State may indict faction leader Ahmed Saadat, and five terror suspects, once security officials conclude an investigation into their alleged involvement in the assassination.

Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and five Palestinians, were arrested on Tuesday by IDF troops in a raid at a Jericho jail where the men had been imprisoned under the supervision of international monitors.

Israel accuses Saadat of giving orders to assassinate Zeevi in a Jerusalem hotel in 2001 to avenge the targeted assassination of then PFLP leader Abu Ali Mustafa at the beginning of the intifada.

Mazuz told Israel Radio earlier Thursday that Israel has an interest in trying the killers of one of its ministers in an Israeli court.

“Israel’s position that it has the exclusive right to try them has been made clear to the Americans and the Palestinians,” Mazuz said.

Saadat and his men were tried in a Palestinian Authority court in 2002 after Israel agreed that the men will be jailed in a Jericho prison under the supervision of British and U.S. monitors.

The Justice Ministry will later decide whether the suspects should be tried in a military or a civilian court.

Two suspects of Zeevi’ murder have already been tried in a civilian court.

Israel also tried Tanzim leader and Fatah member Marwan Barghouti in a civilian court to allow media coverage of his trial.