Rabin killer moved to Ramon Prison, housing Palestinian terrorists; PM lauds channels' decision.
By JPOST.COM STAFFYigal Amir evil 248.88(photo credit: AP)
Channels 2 and 10 decided Friday not to air the controversial interview with Yigal Amir, former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin, following the heavy criticism which came after excerpts were aired on Thursday night.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert commended the channels' decision not to air the interview, saying it would hurt Israelis' feelings, especially so close to the anniversary of Rabin's slaying.
The Israel Prisons Service (IPS) said that the interview was given without authorization and suspects it was conducted over a cellular video phone Amir received to speak to his wife, Larissa Trimbobler.
As punishment for the unauthorized interview, the IPS transferred Amir to Ramon Prison in the South, which houses hundreds of Palestinian terrorists and other security prisoners.
Amir was placed in the heavily guarded solitary confinement wing at the jail, and electric appliances, including a television, a DVD player and an kettle, were confiscated from him.
The IPS also banned conjugal visits from Trimbobler for three months and forbade Amir from receiving telephone calls, visitors, books and letters.
In the excerpts of the interview aired on Thursday night, Amir said he was influenced to carry out the murder by "those who understand the military and said that the [Oslo] accords will lead to tragedy," naming former prime minister Ariel Sharon, former tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi and former chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Rafael Eitan. Amir further stated that he did not need a rabbi's directive to carry out the assassination.
Amir said also that he had an opportunity to kill Rabin some time before he actually assassinated him, during an event in which Rabin was present and security measures were minimal.
IPS spokesman Yaron Zamir had officially appealed to Channel 10 and Channel 2, asking them not to air the statements of the former prime minister's assassin.
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