Shin Bet chief: Trial of soldiers' murderers near Hebron a 'farce'

The head of the Shin Bet security services on Sunday blasted the Palestinian Authority for what he termed the 'farcical' legal proceedings held against the Palestinian murderers two off-duty Israel Defense Forces soldiers near the West Bank city of Hebron late last year.

Yuval Diskin told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that the trial held for the murderers was a 'farce,' as the PA court decided to sentence them to 15 years in prison each, rather than the life terms it had promised Israel.

Diskin said that due to pressure from Israel, the defendents were given an additional 10 years, on charges of harming Palestinian interests.

He added that the Shin Bet was currently examining the letters of indictment against the suspects.

IDF soldiers Akikam Amihai and David Rubin were hiking near Hebron in late December when they came under fire from three Palestinian terrorists in a Jeep.

The defendants, 24-year-old Amar Taha, a Palestinian police officer, and 26-year-old Ali Dandanes, a PA court clerk, turned themselves in after the attack, fearing they would be captured by Israeli security forces.

The Shin Bet chief also said that since U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Israel last month, the PA security services have significantly reduced their operations against Hamas militants in the West Bank.

He added that a number of wanted militants arrested by the PA have also since escaped.

	Slain IDF soldiers David Rubin and Ahikam Amihai (Flash 90 / IDF)