VARIOUS SHOTS OF COURTHOUSE EXTERIOR: POLICE PATROLS: SPECTATORS IN COURTROOM: ACCUSED ARABS AND ISRAELI AGENT: PRESIDING JUDGE GUT: COURT OFFICIALS.




Initials KM/VS/DW/BB


EDITORS' NOTE: WE APOLOGISE FOR QUALITY OF SOME OF THIS FILM TAKEN FROM TELEVISION MONITOR OUTSIDE COURTROOM AS CAMERAMAN NOT ALLOWED IN.

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Background: A SWISS COURT SENTENCED THREE PALESTINIAN COMMANDOS TO 12-YEARS HARD LABOUR EACH ON TUESDAY (22 DEC) FOR SHOOTING UP AN ISRAELI AIRLINER AT ZURICH LAST FEBRUARY, KILLING THE PILOT.

THE THREE YOUNG ARABS, MOHAMMED ABU-AL-HAIJA, 24, IBRAHIM TAWFIK YOUSSEF, 34, AND MISS AMINA DAHBOUR, A 22-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL TEACHER, HAVE TEN DAYS TO APPEAL. THE PROSECUTION SAID THE ATTACK WAS PLANNED BY THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE.

MORDECHAI RACHAMIM, AN ISRAELI SECURITY GUARD ON TRIAL WITH THEM, WAS ACQUITTED ON A CHARGE OF HANSLAUGHTER OF A FOURTH ARAB ATTACKER. THE COURT'S ATTITUDE WAS THAT WHATEVER HE DID WAS A REACTION TO THE ATTACK ON THE JETLINER.

PRESIDING JUDGE HANS GUT READ THE SENTENCES WHICH MARK THE END OF THE FIRST PUBLIC TRIAL OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST OF PALESTINIAN COMMANDOS.

EXTENSIVE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS WERE PUT INTO EFFECT FOR THE TRIAL WHICH BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27. THROUGHOUT THE PROCEEDINGS MR. RACHAMIN, FREE ON BAIL, WAS HEAVILY GUARDED.

THE ARAB'S DEFENCE COUNSEL SAID LAST WEEK THAT THEY EXPECTED TO BE ACQUITTED BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED THEIR MACHINE GUN AND GRENADE ATTACK ON THE EL AL AIRCRAFT A LEGITIMATE ACT OF WAR.