SPECIAL COMMUNIQUE

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights sends letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu calling for the immediate investigation and trial of Shabak agent, Ehud Yatom

Published @ 10.00 local time 29 August

Following the testimony of Ehud Yatom, a senior official in the Israeli Intelligence Service, the Shabak, to an Israeli newspaper, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu, urging the Israeli government to re-open the case of Bus 300 and to ensure that all those involved in the death of Subhi and Majdi Abu Jamea be held responsible for their role in the Bus 300 Affair.

In an interview published 26 July 1996 in Yediot Ahranot, Yatom stated he executed Subhi and Majdi Abu Jamea on the morning of 13 April 1984, under orders from the then Head of Shabak, Abraham Shalom. The two men had been arrested the previous evening for participating in the hijacking of Israeli Bus 300. Israeli officials stated the two men died from their injuries while being driven to the hospital by Israeli security forces after they surrendered. Yatom also stated in his interview with Yediot Ahranot that he and other security agents lied about their roles in the events of the Bus 300 case to the investigating committee, and were subsequently granted Presidential pardons based on this false testimony.

In its letter to the Prime Minister, the Palestinian Centre questioned the evidence upon which Yatom received his presidential pardon, and urged the Israeli government to re-open the case of Bus 300 and to ensure that all those involved in the death of Subhi and Majdi Abu Jamea are held accountable for their actions. Letters were also forwarded to Attorney General, Michael Ben-Yair, Minister of Defense, Yitzak Mordechai, and Minister of Justice, Yaakov Neeman, demanding that the rule of law be upheld.

In addition, the Palestinian Centre has contacted the UN Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings, Mr. Bacre Walli Ndiaye, and requested that he approach the Israeli government seeking the release of all information regarding past and present judicial proceedings of the Bus 300 case.

As representatives of the families of Subhi and Majdi Abu Jamea with power of attorney, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights will continue to pursue this case utilizing all necessary legal mechanisms.