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Text of report by Israeli settlers' Arutz 7 radio web site on 18 May
The trial of the "Arutz-7 Ten" has come to an end, as both the prosecution and the defendants withdrew their appeals yesterday against the original ruling. Both sides had appealed the sentences handed down against ten Arutz-7 station managers and broadcasters seven months ago.
The Jerusalem District Court judges expressed strong criticism of the state and the prosecution in their handling of the case against Arutz-7:
"It is inconceivable that the state would take out its rage against the pirate radio stations by punishing the leaders of Arutz- 7... [ellipsis as received] (which) operated throughout the years with the encouragement of the authorities; the Knesset [parliament] even legislated a law to legalize it."
The judges began by recommending that both sides withdraw their appeals, and the defence team agreed. The prosecution then did the same - except for the fine levied against Ya'akov (Ketzaleh) Katz, the station's executive-director, which it insisted be increased. The judges were not happy with this position, and hinted that if the prosecution did not withdraw its appeal totally, they would have much to say...