Cablegate: Terrorist Abdallah Denied Parole; Appeal Expected

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DE RUEHFR #4223 2831334
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O 101334Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0732
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0523
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS PARIS 004223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

S/CT FOR MARC NORMAN, DOJ FOR PAUL HERRUP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL FR
SUBJECT: TERRORIST ABDALLAH DENIED PAROLE; APPEAL EXPECTED

REF: A. PARIS 3826

B. PARIS 1692
C. STATE 29445
D. PARIS 775

1. (SBU) Embassy Paris was informed by Embassy Counsel
Georges Kiejman on the afternoon of October 10 that the Paris
Tribunal refused parole for convicted terrorist Georges
Ibrahim Abdallah. We expect that Abdallah will file an
appeal with the Paris Court of Appeals within the next ten
days (the maximum allotted time to file an appeal). A
decision by the appeals court would normally be expected
within several weeks. The Tribunal's decision also barred
Abdallah from requesting parole for at least one year (the
appeal being an exception).

2. (SBU) The written court decision indicates that the
Tribunal refused parole due to (A) the risk that Abdallah
poses a continuing terrorist threat in Lebanon and/or other
territories and (B) the "situation of the victims" (based on
the testimonials provided by Robert Homme and Col. Ray's
widow).

3. (SBU) Abdallah was convicted in 1987 for the 1982
assassinations in Paris of Embassy Paris' A/DAO Col. Charles
Ray and Israeli diplomat Yakov Barsimentov, as well as for
the 1984 attempted killing of US Consul General Strasbourg,
Robert Homme, outside his official residence. This is
Abdallah's fifth request for parole. All but one were denied
in the first instance, the other on appeal. The U.S.
Government is a civil party to the case. Post will note our
appreciation for this update to GOF contacts with whom we
have raised this case.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton

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