A Central District Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal filed by Yigal Amir against the Israel Prison Authority (IPA) revoking his privileges after he contacted Yoav Eliasi, commonly known by his stage name ‘The Shadow’, to assist him in getting out of prison.

Amir, who was convicted in the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, was placed in solitary confinement after launching a hunger strike in response to the revocation of his privileges. The punitive action was taken against him after he contacted persons in violation of the terms of his imprisonment.

The court ruled that it did not find cause for canceling the revocation of his privileges in response to his rule breaking, with IPA officials explaining the use of a phone by Amir to speak with persons with whom he may not have contact is grounds for the revocation of his phone privileges.

Officials explain the phone “is intended to help the prisoner maintain his relations with his family and that violating the privilege, such as using it for propaganda, organizing or political activity, can be grounds for denying this right”.

As such, the court decided it does not have grounds to intervene regarding the IPA’s actions.

This began a month ago, when Channel13 published a phone conversation conducted between Amir and The Shadow inside the prison.

Amir:
This is Yigal Amir…I wanted to know something, as I understand you have a website with many visitors.

Eliasi:
I have many.

Yamir:
Okay. Listen, in the Russian sector a party was formed to gain my release. They have 600 members, retirees and academics. Now, they wish to have the party run in Knesset in the upcoming race with the goal of getting me released. One of the goals is to change the media map in Israel, which is totally controlled by the left-wing. Now, these people are not afraid, and they set up an internet site.

At this point, Eiliasi informed Amir he has no interest in being in touch with him. He even refused to write down the phone number of Amir’s wife.

The conversation ended.

In response to the court’s ruling, Amir’s attorney, Ariel Atari told the press that the ruling does not provide an answer to the basic claims made to the court and therefore, the High Court will have to deal with the illegal harm to Yigal Amir’s rights. We do not plan to come to terms with this injury and in the coming days we will appeal the ruling to the High Court.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)