1.
GV: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his wife Leah leaving home for court.
0.14

2.
GV: court building in Tel Aviv.
0.19

3.
GV: Mrs Rabin entering court.
0.27

4.
CU: cameramen
0.34

5.
GV: Mrs Rabin being mobbed by press as she leaves court building and enters car.
1.10

6.
GV AND CU: Knesset building, Jerusalem.
1.15

7.
GV: car arrives, Rabin gets out and enters building.
1.26

8.
GV: new acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres entering building.
1.44

9.
CU and GV: Knesset building.
1.50


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



Rabin offered to waive his parliamentary immunity and stand trial with his wife, but later he said he understood there were constitutional problems involved. The Prime Minister was himself fined 15,000 Israeli pounds (about 1,000 sterling) for his part in the affair.




Initials RH/MF/AH/0325



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Israel, the Rabin scandal reached its conclusion on Sunday (17 April) when the Prime Minister's wife Leah was fined 250,000 Israeli pounds (16,000 sterling) for holding illegal savings and a chequing account in a bank in Washington, United States.

SYNOPSIS: Mrs Rabin left home for court in Tel Aviv accompanied by her husband and married daughter, but only her daughter entered the packed building with her. Pale and drawn behind her large sunglasses, Mrs Rabin listened without emotion as Tel Aviv District Attorney Mrs Victoria Ostrowsky charged her with illegally holding over 21,000 U.S. dollars in the American bank after March 1973, the date when her husband returned to Israel from his ambassadorship to the United States.

Mrs Rabin was mobbed by newsmen as she left the courtroom. Inside she had heard Mrs Ostrowsky say that the whole incident had caused considerable public damage -- "since the accused is the wife of the Prime Minister, who is in charge of the government's economic policy." Mrs Ostrowsky added: "a person in this position should have served as an example to the public. Earlier the Attorney General had ruled that Mrs Rabin was the active partner in managing the Washington bank accounts and therefore would have to stand trial.

After the trial Yatzhak Rabin bowed out of power and an official communique said that he had told his cabinet colleagues in Jerusalem that he was taking leave of absence as from next Friday, (22 April) the day after Israel's 29th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Rabin named Defence Shimon Peres as acting Premier he has already been a chosen as leader of the labour party Mr Rabin cannot resign and will formally remain as Prime Minister until a new government is formed after general elections in May. The eclipse of his political career is the main punishment for what Mr Rabin has described as an unfortunate mistake.