State may free felons to find Majdi Halabi's body

The state has signed an agreement pardoning two convicted felons on condition that the two provide information that helps locate the body of IDF soldier Majdi Halabi, who has been designated as missing for approximately 7 years, according to sources Monday.

Halabi disappeared in May of 2005 while traveling from his home to his base in Tirat Carmel near Haifa.

He was last seen at a bus station in his hometown Daliyat al-Karmel located on the slopes of the Carmel mountain. He was formally declared missing in action (MIA) on June 6, 2005.

Boaz Konig, the attorney representing the two felons as well as a third prisoner, Moshe Mordechai, involved in the deal, told Army Radio Monday that the two convicts were paying him to represent Mordechai as well. Mordechai is the actual source on where the body in question is hidden. The two felons seeking a pardon want Mordechai to pass them the details of the body location, after which they would pass on the details to the authorities.

The deal was signed weeks ago, but has still not been fully implemented as Mordechai has refused to provide the authorities with a detailed map leading to the burial spot of the missing person until he is promised hundreds of thousands of shekels.

Officials from the IDF and the Prime Minister's Office have been consulted along with Ami Palmor, the Justice Ministry official responsible for pardons.

At this point, the state succeeded in exposing Mordechai's identity and is considering involving the Shin Bet and the police in handling the matter.

The two convicts are serving prison terms for murder and drug-related crimes respectively.

The third prisoner is serving two life-terms for murder.

The deal has inspired intense media speculation in recent days. The Justice Ministry until now has been unwilling to confirm most details regarding the deal.